Stranger, Help Me

SAFE

"Gale speaking. Hey, Evangeline."

"Just calling to thank you."

"No worries... I'm always glad to help."

"I have a question, though."

"Okay, sure."

"Why do you always sound so shaky?"

"Shaky?"

"Like you're afraid of your words breaking when you speak."

"Oh."

"Nervousness, I guess."

"Oh, Okay. So... feeling better today?"

"Yes."

"Good! You know, it's the first time you called me in the morning, and not some random time at night."

"Well. I guess it's been a good day, so the morning it is."

"Tell me more."

"My mother came to visit... At last. She took my sister to her house and told me that she'll be safe."

"That's good to hear. What happened to her?"

"Nothing. My mother divorced my... father when he became... Became....
Abusive... and left soon after."

"Abu - is that part of why you were bleeding last night?"

"..."

"Evangeline!"

"Maybe."

"This is serious, I have to call the - "

"Please don't. It doesn't get too bad. I won't have anything."

"Your mother... How about her?"

"She's my sister's real mother. I don't know who my real mother is. She loves my sister, not me, but we talk because we both want my sister to be safe. She won't take me in. She has her own family... My sister's enough. Please don't call anyone. If I lose my father, I'll have no one. I'm okay. I really am."

"... I'm so sorry. You really are strong. H - hey, are you crying?"

"...no."

"Why do you call me?"

"It was a random number. I just needed someone, anyone... That night... I just... I lost it."

"I...I'll be here."

"Yeah..."

"I'm Gale, by the way."

"I know. You say it when you pick up. Thank you... Can I keep calling?"

"I've said it before, you know."

"..."

"Don't cry! It gets weird for me!"

Beep, beep...

"Ah, great. She hung up crying."