“The mom is here. She’s a wreck. Works double shifts at the diner. The house has a cracked foundation, the nest was underneath. She had no idea. She just collapsed in the hallway.”
That evening, just before my shift ended, the console beeped again. A direct message from the hospital liaison.
“Patient Mia indicates she wants to speak to the ‘Phone Lady’. Nurse says it might help calm her down. Can we patch you through?”
I looked at David. He nodded. “Take it offline. Go to the quiet room.”
I walked to the small, soundproof booth we used for breaks and critical incident debriefings. I picked up the handset.
“Hello?” I whispered.
“Helen?”
The voice was raspy, weak, and groggy from the medication. But it was there. It was alive.
“Hi, Mia,” I said, tears finally spilling over my cheeks. “It’s me.”
“Yes, honey. Officer James and his friends made sure they are all gone. You are safe now.”
There was a pause, and then the sound of rustling sheets.
“The doctor gave me a bear,” she said. “He doesn’t have honey, though. He has a bandage.”
I laughed, a wet, shaky sound. “A bandage bear is the best kind. That means he’s tough. Just like you.”
“Helen?”
“Yes, Mia?”
“Thank you for helping me close the door.”
“You’re welcome, Mia. You rest now.”
Three months later.
Winter had settled over Silverwood. snow covered the rotting roofs and the empty factories, making the town look clean and new, if only for a little while. Continue reading…
