When We Were Young

Somebody Else

Sabrina's Apartment - Manhattan. January 15th, 2015

"Thanks for letting me stay here for the night," he said as he settled into the blankets she'd given him.

"Of course. You're welcome here as long as you need. It's always nice to know you've got a place to go when you have a spat with your loved one."

Franklin called her that afternoon after he discovered that his partner, Jim, had been cheating on him. Unsure of who to call or where to go, he called Sabrina to see if he could stay at the store overnight and she insisted he stay with her instead. Even though he hadn't worked long at her store, they'd become fast friends.

"I really appreciate it. I just feel so confused. Have you ever had someone cheat on you?"

"I haven't ever been in a serious relationship, so no."

"You're kidding," he emoted and sat upright on the air mattress that he'd been laying on.

"Not kidding."

"That's so weird," Franklin commented as he studied her pensive expression. "You're so pretty and so smart."

"Not that weird. I've been out on dates, it's not like I'm celibate," she giggled. "It's just that most guys are...oh I don't know--"

"Pigs. Savages. Idiots--"

Sabrina threw her head back in laughter. Franklin was in "scorned lover" mode and she found his rantings quite hysterical. "Savages. Yes--"

She was cut off by the shrill ringing of her cell phone. Her mother was calling for one of their regular phone "chats". She answered the call, mouthing "sorry" to Franklin as her mother started to chatter.

"How are you, sweetheart?"

"I'm fine, mom. How are you?" she replied, downing the last swallow of her wine.

"Cold. It's god awfully cold out there today. You didn't go hoofing it around town after closing today, did you? It's too cold for--"

"Mom. Settle down. I took a cab home."

On the other end of the line, her mother, Grace let out a long sigh of relief. Her incessant worrying over her daughter only increased when there was inclement weather or if she was ill. God forbid she not answer her phone due to a traffic-related hangup, Grace would lose her marbles. Sabrina had long since given up on telling her not to worry but it was no use. "Like carrying water to the sea," her father, James would say.

"Oh! Did you watch the nominations today?"

"Nominations? For what?"

"The Oscars, child. He's nominated, you know," she reminded her daughter pointedly.

"Who is?" she asked, flippantly, though she knew just what her mother was getting at.

"Sabrina," her mother scolded. "You should really call him...after all this time--"

"Mom, I really can't. I have company," exasperated by the scrutiny, she made up an excuse. "I'll call you tomorrow," she said quickly, hanging up fast so that her mother wouldn't argue. Franklin eyed her quizzically and took note that the phone call had clearly upset her.