Stay On The Line Please!

“Don’t hang up.”

“I wasn’t planning to.”

“You say that when you’re bleeding.”

“I’m not bleeding.”

“Then why are you whispering?”

“Because I don’t want them to hear me.”

“Who is them?”

“You always ask that.”

“Because you never answer.”

“I need you to listen.”

“I am listening.”

“No. I need you to believe me.”

“Start talking.”

“I shouldn’t have come back.”

“You say that every time you visit home.”

“This time I mean it.”

“You always mean it.”

“They locked the back door.”

“Who did?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’re scaring me.”

“Good. Then you’ll stay awake.”

“Where are the kids?”

“Asleep.”

“You checked?”

“Yes.”

“Swear it.”

“I swear.”

“Why are you here this late?”

“Because mom called.”

“Mom’s been dead for three years.”

“That’s why I came.”

“Stop.”

“She called my name.”

“You’re tired.”

“She used my full name.”

“You’re panicking.”

“She said I was late.”

“Listen to yourself.”

“She said you were waiting.”

“I am waiting.”

“Not like that.”

“Where are you right now?”

“In the old house.”

“You promised you’d never go back there.”

“I promised her.”

“She’s dead.”

“She didn’t sound dead.”

“You don’t get to say that.”

“I do.”

“You weren’t there.”

“I watched her stop breathing.”

“Then how did she call me?”

“Because grief lies.”

“She told me to bring the ring.”

“What ring?”

“The one you buried.”

“I didn’t bury anything.”

“You told me you did.”

“I told you to forget it.”

“You said it would keep her quiet.”

“I said no such thing.”

“You said if I ever heard her again, it meant something was wrong.”

“Stop talking.”

“I’m at the stairs.”

“Don’t go up.”

“She’s upstairs.”

“No one is upstairs.”

“She said the children were cold.”

“Get out of the house.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“The door won’t open.”

“You said they locked it.”

“I lied.”

“Why?”

“Because if I said it wouldn’t open, you’d hang up.”

“I’m not hanging up.”

“You promise?”

“Yes.”

“Say it again.”

“I promise.”

“I hear footsteps.”

“Your own.”

“They’re not mine.”

“How many?”

“…Two.”

“Run.”

“I can’t leave them.”

“The kids are asleep.”

“She said they were crying.”

“She lies.”

“So did you.”

“I lied to protect them.”

“You lied to protect yourself.”

“Don’t do this now.”

“When else?”

“I loved her.”

“I know.”

“She loved me more.”

“That’s not how love works.”

“That’s how she taught it.”

“She hurt you.”

“She saved me.”

“She broke you.”

“She kept me.”

“Listen to me.”

“I am.”

“You’re not a child anymore.”

“Then why does she keep calling me one?”

“Because she owned you.”

“She was my mother.”

“She was your jailer.”

“She was scared.”

“So were you.”

“So were you.”

“And I left.”

“You escaped.”

“You stayed.”

“I stayed because someone had to.”

“You stayed because you were afraid.”

“I stayed because you asked me to.”

“I was sixteen.”

“You were loud.”

“I didn’t know how to be quiet.”

“She liked us quiet.”

“She liked control.”

“She liked love.”

“She liked obedience.”

“She liked silence.”

“I hear her voice.”

“Put me on speaker.”

“…She says you never loved her.”

“That’s not true.”

“She says you abandoned us.”

“That’s not true.”

“She says if I bring the ring, she’ll let the kids live.”

“Get out of the house now.”

“She says you won’t come.”

“I’m coming.”

“You said you’d never return.”

“I’m coming anyway.”

“She says you always lie.”

“I did then.”

“Don’t do this.”

“I’m already driving.”

“You can’t save me.”

“I don’t need to save you.”

“Then why are you coming?”

“Because I still love you.”

“She’s laughing.”

“Tell her she doesn’t own you.”

“She says love is ownership.”

“She lied.”

“She says you taught her that.”

“I was wrong.”

“She says wrong doesn’t undo.”

“She’s right.”

“Give me the phone.”

“She wants to speak to you.”

“No.”

“She’s screaming.”

“Put the phone down.”

“I can’t.”

“She’s saying the stairs remember you.”

“Get outside.”

“I’m at the window.”

“Jump.”

“It’s too high.”

“Then scream.”

“I am screaming.”

“I don’t hear anything.”

“She says no one ever hears.”

“I hear you.”

“She says love sounds the same as fear.”

“She’s lying.”

“She says you’ll choose yourself again.”

“I’m choosing you.”

“She says you already did.”

“I didn’t know better.”

“You know now.”

“She says it’s too late.”

“It’s never too late.”

“She says death taught her patience.”

“Stay with me.”

“I’m scared.”

“I know.”

“I don’t want to die here.”

“You won’t.”

“I don’t want the kids to grow up like this.”

“They won’t.”

“She’s getting closer.”

“Look at me.”

“I can’t see you.”

“Listen to me.”

“I am.”

“You are not hers.”

“She says blood decides.”

“Love decides.”

“She says love kills.”

“Only when it’s twisted.”

“She’s reaching for me.”

“Say my name.”

“Say it again.”

“Say it louder.”

“Don’t leave me.”

“I’m here.”

“She says if I step back, I betray her.”

“You were never hers to betray.”

“She’s crying.”

“She never cried.”

“Then she’s losing.”

“She says I’m breaking her heart.”

“She broke yours first.”

“I hear glass.”

“Where?”

“The window.”

“Good.”

“I can climb.”

“Do it.”

“She’s pulling me.”

“Let go.”

“I can’t.”

“You can.”

“I don’t know how.”

“You already do.”

“I loved her.”

“You survived her.”

“I loved you too.”

“I love you.”

“Then live.”

“I’m slipping.”

“Hold on.”

“I don’t think I can.”

“You can.”

“I’m tired.”

“Rest later.”

“She’s screaming my name.”

“Answer me instead.”

“…I’m outside.”

“Are you safe?”

“I think so.”

“Where are the kids?”

“Still asleep.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“I’m almost there.”

“She’s quiet now.”

“Good.”

“I’m shaking.”

“That means you’re alive.”

“I don’t hear her anymore.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I didn’t bring the ring.”

“You never needed it.”

“I thought love meant staying.”

“Love means choosing life.”

“…Are you still there?”

“Yes.”

“Promise you won’t disappear.”

“I promise presence.”

“Good.”

“Good.”

“Stay on the line.”

“I’m staying.”

“Even after this?”

“Especially after this.”

“…Are you still there?”

“Yes.”

“Then so am I.”