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Sakina nods firmly. “Yes, three weeks. And I don’t want to hear any arguments from you. You need this, Erin. Trust me.”
I slump back against the pillows, feeling defeated and overwhelmed. Three weeks. What am I going to do for three whole weeks?
Sakina lays a hand on my shoulder, her touch reassuring. “Take some time for yourself. Rest. Recharge. And when you come back, you’ll be ready to tackle anything that comes your way.”
I nod, feeling a knot form in my throat. Sakina leaves the room, and I’m left alone with my thoughts. Three weeks. It feels like an eternity.
What will I do with myself for three weeks?
Go insane. That’s what.
I haven’t taken more than a three-day vacation since high school. Even when I was in college, I was always working and interning all summer long.
There has to be another way. Maybe if I take a long weekend and come back refreshed, it will show Sakina that I’m fit to work. She’ll have to—
A ringing pierces the air, and I look over to see that someone has put my belongings on the bedside table. My phone is going off, its screen lighting up with the word “Mom.”
I hesitate. The last few times she called, I didn’t answer.
And it’s not like I was avoiding her — okay, fine. Maybe I was avoiding her a little bit. I’ve just been in a funk lately, since Dan and I broke up. I’ve been doing best by keeping my nose to the grindstone and not getting distracted by other things.
But now here I am in bed, with nothing to do while Sakina orders the tests that she’s already so sure about.
So I answer the phone.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Erin, darling! How are you doing?” My mother’s voice is chipper and upbeat.
“I’m okay,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’m just taking a little break.”
“What kind of break?” she asks, and I can hear the suspicion in her voice.
“Just a couple of days off,” I say, trying to make it sound like it’s no big deal. “What’s up with you? What’s new?”
“The house sold!”
“That’s great news.” I lean forward in bed, trying to see through the crack in the door. How long will I need to wait for those tests?
“It is, but we need to be out next month, and packing has just been a headache. With Dad’s back, it’s going pretty slow. I need a personal assistant!” She laughs.
Wait. A personal assistant?
“Mom, I can help you pack,” I blurt out before I have time to rethink the offer.
Her silence can only be of the stunned variety. My visits home are few and sporadic, and only happen when something like a holiday is occurring.
“What about work?” she asks.
“I can take a few weeks off. I was thinking about it anyway.”
No way can I tell her what Sakina said. She would freak.
“Are you sure?” she asks, still sounding hesitant.
“Yeah, I’m sure. It’ll be fun,” I lie.
“That would be wonderful, Erin. Thank you so much.” Her voice is warm and grateful.
