~
She sat there, on a table far too big for her own world, all alone. It had all started to click into place, become real. She had been disconnected from human society, not of her own desire but because of her use to these metal men.
For my own good. That was what they said. It was for my own good.
In her hands was her cell phone. While she was disconnected it was not. It had called out, announcing a text message. It had been her mom, asking whether she was bringing dessert or the wine for dinner that night. Staring at the screen which no longer illuminated itself to show the message she felt so very empty.
What am I supposed to say?
The tears worked their way up, slowly clamping her throat closed as they clawed their way up from the dark pit inside herself that her soul had sunk to.
“Mama, what am I supposed to tell you?”
“You speak as if your mother can hear you.”
With a quick sniffle to keep the oncoming sobs under wraps she tried her best to compose herself. “I just got a text message from my mother. I’ve still got signal in my cell phone right now and the longer I wait the less likely a reply will actually make it back and I can’t just leave without a goodbye.”
Her phone started ringing then, the screen showing it was her mother calling. She could no longer keep her sorrow in check. With a strangled, choked out sob she felt her tight control on her brave facade dissolve. She pulled her knees close to her chest, wrapping herself into a compact form with her vibrating cell phone having fallen next to her.
“I’m sorry, mama. I’m sorry.” She said before the sobs were too strong to speak.