Member-only story
Front Line Fiction # 29
Anatomy of a Relapse
Blow by blow by blow
After three rings, the phone was answered by a voice she never thought she’d hear again. “Melvin?”
“Yes, Gloria.” The words rolled off his tongue.
As desperate as she was to talk to her sponsor, curiosity got the better of her. “What are you doing at Shawna’s?”
After a long, suspicious pause, he said, “We’re a…a thing now.”
“Are you shitting me?” Gloria’s voice reached a new-to-her octave, stretching her vocal cords into the pain range.
“Not intentionally, no.” Melvin’s voice went flat. “I would never do that, Gloria. Especially not…to you.”
Yeah right. Gloria closed her eyes, praying for God to grant her the serenity not to wring his neck.
“Hello?” Melvin mumbled. “You still there.”
Gloria forced a loud sigh. “Yes. I’m here. Where’s Shawna?”
“She’s indisposed at the moment. But she’ll be right back.” Mevin purred again. “So what’s been going on? Do you miss me?”
“Hardly!” Steam poured from her ears, and through clenched teeth, Gloria spit out, “Tell Shawna to call me back when she’s not… indisposed.” She clicked off her phone and looked around her kitchen…
