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14
RAVEN
Monday at noon.
At the hotel.
“I’m still here,”I say, moving around the room, trying to find my things.
“What happened?”
Giana’s voice lifts from my phone. She is on speaker.
“Nothing happened.”
“Why are you hoarse?”
“I’m not.”
I am.
I’m actually more than hoarse.
My body hurts, and I have marks on my skin. My voice is shot, and I feel decades older. More mature, to be exact, although that can mean many things.
“I overslept,” I say, picking up my shorts and a T-shirt and putting them on.
Actually, I didn’t sleep much. And now I don’t feel like sleeping.
Alejandro and Francisco are in their hotel rooms, and I feel like going outside, walking up and down the alley, inhaling the oceanic air.
“Is that why you’re still there?” she asks incredulously.
I pick up the phone from the table and fall into a chair.
“No. I changed my plans.”
“Do you still have a job?”
“I’m not sure about the job.”
“Raven?”
“Yes. I know. I know… It’s not like me. There was a fallout with my boss.”
I quickly change my mind.
“No, no. It’s not about him. Things have changed. And he and I are no longer on great terms. He’s probably back. And I’ll most likely fly back tomorrow. Hopefully, I can still work there, although I’m considering other options.”
Silence fills the room.
I realize my voice has sounded completely different––like the voice of someone no longer hanging onto every scrap of good fortune, every nickel thrown their way, and every bit of goodwill.
The nuance must be registering with her too.
She doesn’t comment, and I don’t know how to start talking about another topic.
“How are things with you?” I finally say.
