THE CALL

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I gaze up at the sky. The sun has now dropped below the horizon. The fleeting colors of dusk begin to fade, leaving only fragments of the rich hues of red blended with oranges, purples, and crimson as the evening shift begins, making way for the moon. The chill of the night air graces my lips as I inhale, and my butt has gotten wet from the grass. Tummy rumbling, I drag my body inside and turn on the stove, opening a new bottle of shiraz and pouring a generous glass.

I had purchased a fresh piece of eye fillet steak earlier in the day, having cravings for something red and juicy, and now have the thick meat resting in a dish next to the burner. Marinating the fillet with garlic and several herbs from my garden, I sprinkle a pinch of sea salt and black pepper for seasoning. Pulling out sweet potatoes, I peel their skin before cutting them into small cubes and dropping them in water to boil. Moving to the refrigerator, I remove a handful of greens to accompany my meal and prepare a small salad.

Cooking has always been a form of therapy for me, experimenting with different flavor combinations, trialing other ways to sauté, cure, braise, and grill foods, and trying to eat fresh when I can, rather than ordering in.

Taking a moment, I stretch and rub my lower back, the muscles swollen and tender.

Salad aside and potatoes happily bubbling away, I put the meat in a pan, lay it on the burner over high heat, and grab my phone. Checking message bank, I put the sound on speaker and sip my wine.

The automated voice of the message bank comes on. "Message received, Tuesday 3rd November 7:30 pm.

"Hi Ava, it's Liam again, I know, two phone calls in one day, desperate much?" He chuckles, his voice slightly nervous, his brogue strong, "So lass, I'm hoping that you're super busy and haven't had a chance to listen to my call from earlier. You're probably also wondering how I got your number. Funny story, that, actually no, I contacted Oliva Murphy earlier when she was in range and got her to pass it on. I hope you don't mind, love."

Well, that explains how he got my number.

"Anyway, just let me know you're okay. Call me, bye."

"Message received, Tuesday 3rd November 10:00 pm."

"Hi Ava, it's me again, Liam. I know it's late, and I don't know if you're trying to give me the cold shoulder. It's okay if you are, but, aye, just call me back, or at least text me to let me know you're all right. Please, Ava. Bye."

"Message received, Wednesday 4th November 8:00 am."

"Ava, it's me. Liam. Again! I just got the news that there was an accident on the Spur, not too far from where you are. I'm heading out there now. Ava, apparently, there are no survivors." His voice turning more urgent, panic in his tone, "Ava, love, if you're getting my messages, please just text me to let me know you're okay, bye..."

Turning the steak, mashing the potatoes, and plating the greens, I refill my glass after finishing the previous one a little too quickly, guilt and pain starting to claw at me.

No survivors, no survivors! Breathe Ava. Bitch, I'm such a BITCH!

Turning off the heat, I move the potatoes and steak to the plate, filling up yet another glass of wine. I don't even remember drinking the last one. I move to the table and listen to the following message.

"Message received, Wednesday 4th November 10:30 am."

"Ava, thank God the car wasn't yours." The relief in his voice, intense. "Look, I'm heading out to see my folks and am going to call in. I should be there in 15. Text me if you don't want visitors. I guess I'll see you soon."

Shit, the cabin. FUCK, I'll call Olivia tomorrow and apologize...

Did I even lock the front door?

"Message received, Wednesday 4th November 10:45 am."

"Ava, I don't know what's going on, but the cabin is locked, and your car is gone. Ava please"

Delete.

"Message received, Thursday 5th November 10:45 am."

"Ava,"

Delete.

"Message received, Friday 6th November 10:00 am."

"Ava,"

Delete.

Delete.

DELETE...

I take a small bite of my steak, the bloody juices running down my throat. I contemplate my next move, text Liam, ignore Liam, or call Liam? I feel like such a bitch. I should have called him, or at least text. Putting my big girl panties on, I select the missed calls on my phone and search for his number pressing the dial. He picks up on the second ring.

"Ava?" Liam asks, his voice sounding relieved. He must be at the bar, given the background noise.

"Yeah, it's me, I'm..."

"Are you okay?" He cuts me off before I can apologize, "Ava, I have been worried sick, I thought, I thought... Never mind, just tell me, are you okay?"

Emptying my bottle, my mind slightly buzzed, I reply, "Yeah, I'm, I'm okay."

"Ava, what happened, love? Why did you leave? Did it have anything to do with Russell?

"Russell?"

"Give me a second, love." I can hear movement over the phone line, a door opening then closing, footsteps, and shuffling, then the background noise fades.

"Sorry, just moved into my office, more privacy," he offers before he sighs, "Ava, there was an attack at the bar the night of the Halloween festival. You might have heard something on the news, an animal attack?"

"Yeah, I did see something," I reply, vaguely recalling the media report Erin told me to watch on CNN.

"Yeah, well, it was our friend Russell, an animal attack. I thought that might have spooked you and the accident, well I, I didn't know what to think."

Fuck, Russell, attack, bar!

I need time to process that. Did it have something to do with the guy that saved me? Shit, shit, SHIT!!!

"Ava, can you hear me," Liam's voice cut through as my thoughts began to spiral, I had forgotten about Russell, the stranger. SHIT!

"Ava?"

"Sorry, you broke up a little then," I lied, "Russell, no, I had no idea,"

"Okay, good," Liam sighs, his voice dropping. "Ava," pause, "was it something I did?"

Shocked and scrambling to come up with a valid reason for leaving as I did, I lie again. "No, God no, sorry, work emergency, you know?" I was in so deep I might as well keep going, "And my phone, well I kinda misplaced it, and then when I did find it, I felt guilty for not calling you, and... Well, I finally got the courage to contact you, and well, here we are."

I'm such a pathetic liar.

"That's okay, love, I thought maybe, I don't know," he pauses again, "I thought maybe I had come on too strong."

It was my turn to cut him off. "NO, no, Liam, my time with you was amazing," and I meant it. "I'm the bitch, I should have called you to explain, but my head was all over the place and well..." At least that wasn't too far from the truth.

"No need to apologize. I'm just thankful that you're okay, love. Actually, Ava, I'm glad you called. I have a business thing myself in Petersburg this Saturday, which, if I recall correctly, isn't too far from where you live. I was hoping we could catch up for dinner or something?"

Dinner, Liam? Can I do this? YES, I need this!

"That would be lovely."

"Really? Aye, can you suggest anywhere, in particular, my shout?"

"Don't be silly," I reply, the wine giving me courage, "You can come here, I'll cook"

"You sure?"

"Yes, positive." Giving Liam my details, we arranged to meet at 7 pm.

"Look, Ava, I hate to do this, but I have to jump off, have a rowdy bar full of people that need me."

"No, that's fine. You go do your work thing, and I'll plan on what I'm going to cook for us."

"Ava," Liam's voice drops again, "I'm really happy you called. I'm looking forward to seeing you again. That's a lie. I'm really looking forward to seeing you again."

"Me too," I laugh, for what feels like the first time in a long time, "Now go and be the boss, and I'll see you in just under 48 hours."

"48 hours and counting, bye, Ava."

"Bye, Liam." I end the call. It's my turn to sigh. I hope to pull this off; I hope I can still be me and not this fucked up version of myself.

***************************************************************************

Cleaning up after my meal, I open another bottle, grab some pain relief tablets, and head outside, dragging a picnic rug, pillow, and blanket with me.

Setting up my makeshift camp, I open the wine, stick a few pills on my tongue, and take a giant swig directly from the bottle to wash them down.

Lying down, I move to my back, resting my head on my pillow, and look to the stars, or what I can make out of the stars, the haze of the city lights dimming their brightness.

I've always enjoyed being outdoors, in nature, the feel of the wilderness, a calming presence to me ever since my parents' deaths. Angela believes it may have something to do with the accident and the time between the crash and the locals finding me.

The authorities believed that my body may have been outside in the elements for at least 12 hours. To this day, no one can explain how I managed to survive my time alone out there, and other than my dreams of a wolf, I can't remember a thing.

Taking another long drink, I wait for the tablets to kick in. The potent cocktail is the perfect mix to pass me out and dream.

I breathe in, out, in, out, the stars beginning to blur, my body relaxing, eyes heavy. Breathe in and out, the smell of pine and musk in the air. In and out, in and out, my lids dropping, my body comfortably numb. In and out, in and out, the feeling of warmth settled on my side. In and out, in and out, the soft touch of fur against my skin. In and out, in and out. You're here! 


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