Taylor woke up on Sunday and within minutes she felt her anxiety creeping over her. Sometimes there were days like this – with no obvious trigger and no easy fix. She knew it would likely last at least a few hours and all she had to do was keep herself healthy and safe while she waited for it to pass.
She decided that instead of sitting around, overthinking everything she would deep clean her house. When she was this anxious she couldn't focus on anything – not even music and she just needed something mindless to do to keep her body moving so the anxiety didn't make her explode.
She got to work, methodically cleaning the kitchen, living room, bedrooms, bathrooms. Before she knew it – the house was sparking clean. She sat on the sofa, resting her tired body while scrolling aimlessly on her phone. As she clicked between Instagram, twitter and Tiktok her eyes flicked to the time at the top of her screen. It was 13.52 and she relaxed slightly. Her Mum called her every Sunday at 2pm. They caught up on the week – it was their time to reconnect and to check on each other.
As 2pm rolled around, Taylor clutched her phone – expecting it to ring any second.
Her frustration bubbled up slightly as the clock rolled to 2.05 then 2.10. At 2.15 she decided to ring her mum – thinking she may just have lost track of time. As the phone rang, then went to voicemail Taylor's frustration turned to concern but she knew not to worry too much. She was sure that her mum couldn't get to the phone in time and would ring back any second. She stared at the clock though as a minute went past, then another, then another. At 2.20PM, Taylor rung again – hoping this time her Mum would hear her phone. When there was no answer, Taylor's concern jumped to full blown panic. She was about to message her but then reasoned that if she didn't hear the calls, she wouldn't hear a message. She made herself a coffee to pass the time. When there was no response, she rung again at 2.30. This time, when there was no answer she began to really worry.
She pulled up her messages – firing off a text to Austin, asking him if he'd heard from Andrea today.
Less than a minute later, a message popped up 'we went out for breakfast this morning, she left about 11 but I haven't spoken to her since. Why?'
The message made Taylor's heart beat faster. Her mind automatically skipped to the worst case scenario – that she had got into a car accident on the way home and was too injured to call them. Taylor then reasoned that somebody would have called them in those 3 hours. She sat herself down, trying to think logically. Once again though, she could only think the worst. She began to worry that Andrea had had an accident at home, or become unwell. She tried phoning her again – the 4th time. There was no answer which Taylor expected but it made her heart twist. There was no way she had lost track of time or hadn't heard her phone. The only reasonable explanation to the blonde was that Andrea was in trouble.
Taylor pulled up Austin's contact – clicking to call him instead. Within a few rings, he picked up – his voice cheery and upbeat. Taylor's frantic tone cut through though "I think something has happened to Mum!"
She could hear Austin's frown through the phone "what?"
Taylor took a deep breath, knowing she needed to explain "she rings me at 2pm every week – there is no answer. Nothing!"
Austin sighed "she's probably just busy..."
Taylor pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to keep her tone calm "No, I know she wouldn't miss it – not unless something was wrong... Austin – can you go and check on her?"
He sighed again "Tay...she will be fine – she's got her own life"
Taylor shook her head, her tone snippy now "or she could be laying at the bottom of the stairs – hurt and alone. How would you feel then?"
