Lost in your own head - A short story

2

Jessica was downstairs, still cooking something for her family. She had the radio playing, she was listening to her favourite radio station, she felt happy. Apollo won a match in the game he was playing, his friends began cheering at his success. Jessica smiled while her favourite song swam into her ears. She finished cooking and sat down on her stool in the kitchen to get a rest, after reading something on her phone she stood up again from her stool and got out the cutlery and plates, she laid them out and began dropping the hot food onto the cold plates, ready for her family to eat. She called everyone down, more than once, they all came down eventually. Jessica's daughter and Apollo's sister was called Sam, she was nine and had her head wound up in dolls and her tablet. She didn't say much, expect when she wanted a new toy or in-game item. Jessica always said that Sam was a 'accident' she wasn't meant to happen, it came at a very stressful time for Jessica, she was in debt and was on the verge of giving up, but like always her optimism paid off, eventually. They all grabbed their forks and began to eat. Apollo was the only man in the house, he at times got onto Jessica's nerves but she was ready for it, she knew it would happen, all it took was time. They all finished eating, then they cleared up the table and went into their own places, Jessica went back into the kitchen to read her magazine, Sam stayed in the living room to watch her cartoons, Apollo went back to playing his game. They were all alone, but as soon as Jessica heard Apollo shouting with his friends on the voice call again, it all changed, Jessica turned the page of her magazine, as soon as she did, she heard her phone ringing, she went searching for it, in her pocket? No. On the sofa? Yep. She picked up the cold phone and swiped answer on the screen, slowly. It was her ex-husband, he was calling to make sure she was okay, she answered with the classic, "Yes, why wouldn't I be?" and they discussed some other short and controversial subjects, like the divorce. Jessica put him to bed with, "I have to go." and pressed the hang-up button, she didn't love him anymore, but he still wanted her, he felt empty without her body. Jessica however was a strong woman and never wanted him again, not to once again watch him drunk, not to once again argue with him, not to once again go through the pain. She placed her now warm phone on the kitchen counter, she walked over to the sink and began to wash, she wanted to wash herself away, but she couldn't she wanted to stay strong for her children.