Very. Very Short Stories

Bubbly

Having a night in was something Olivia had been needing for weeks now. Between work, finishing up school for her masters, and the death of her only companion and goldfish Bernerd, life had been rough. So when her planned girls night had to cancel because of a storm blowing through Olivia was excited. Wild nights were her glory and she was ready to take it by the reigns, drink her wine, eat some leftover pasta and her cookie dough ice cream, and watch White Chicks.

After Olivia had taken a warm bath, grabbed a glass of Stella Rosa, and changed into her most comfy pajama pants and her dad's old college sweater, she turned on Netflix and settled on the couch. With the rain beating on her windows and a blanket around her shoulders, Olivia was so engrossed in watching Terry Crews sing "A Thousand Miles", that she almost didn't hear her phone ringing.

"Hello?" Olivia held her breath. She wasn't expecting anyone to call and she didn't recognize the number so who could it be? The caller spoke up, "Um mom?"

Olivia chuckled, "Sorry love, I think you have the wrong number, I don't have a kid."

"Oh, I meant um.. Mrs. Nichols?"

Olivia's breath caught, mom was an easy mistake but Nichols. It had been a long time since she had been called that. As she sat up, her knee knocked on the table, jarring and spilling her glass of wine. Her voice cracked, "No I'm sorry. I don't know her either, you have the wrong number," and before the caller could say anything else, Olivia hung up the phone. She put her phone down, heaved a sigh and sat back on her couch. In the midst of trying to forget tiny cleats and softball jerseys, her phone starts ringing again. The Pina colada ringtone now resembling more of a war siren.

Olivia grabbed it and almost dropping the phone, still shaken she firmly states, "I already said you had the wrong number."

Before Olivia could hang up again, the voice shouted, "Please! I'm your daughter! p- Please! Don't leave me again." Olivia froze, afraid, and the voice started speaking again in a softer manner, "Please, mo-Mrs. Nichols, I need your help. Please." The rain could so loud it almost drowned out her voice.

A beat passed and Olivia spoke coldly, "I don't have a daughter," In a softer voice, "Are you outside," Trying anything to get off this topic, "It sounds like its raining really hard. Why don't you go back home kid? This isn't funny."

The caller frantically shouted, "I'm not joking! You do! I'm Ellie, Elaine Nichols! I was born on June 12th, 2003 in Savannah Georgia. I've been in the system- I've been looking for you."

Olivia, furious, interrupted her "Look, kid. I don't care who you are, or where you came from. I don't want to hear about your life. Go back to your parents." The air felt thick around Olivia's neck, her focus on the wine dripping over the edge of the table wanting nothing more than to go back to watching White Chicks. Maybe down a bottle of tequila and sing songs to Bernerd's grave instead.

"I can't," Ellie said thickly, "Please don't make me go back. I want to live with you again. I have to live with you. I miss you. Please, I'm your daughter."

Olivia coughed, cleared the tears away from her throat, and wondered. She wondered what her little bug would look like by now. Wondered if she'd still be playing softball and spoke, "My daughter is dead. She was taken from me when she was little," Ellie tried to speak up but Olivia yelled, "My daughter is dead!"

Ellie hollered, "I'm not! Mommy, please. I'm alive! I am!" Ellie kept sobbing.

Olivia thought If only I had my baby in my arms, then I could prove it to this self-centered brat. I did my time! I grieved. Her mind cleared, I buried an empty casket. Olivia started to speak, "If you call me again I'll call the pol-"

However when Ellie started singing, Olivia's voice broke, her eyes clouded and her throat burned, "You tucked me in just like a child now... 'Cause every time you hold me in your arms. I'm comfortable enough to feel your warmth... Please mommy It's me. I know you recognize that song, please. You use to sing it to me every night. After every softball game. You said- you used to say that no matter where I go I would always remember your voice- your warmth."

Oliva heard Elaine gasp, taking in a breath of air before she herself felt as if she couldn't breathe. Finally allowing tears to fall down her face, Olivia sobbed, "Why... Where did you get all this? You cant- you cant be my baby. She- you're supposed to be dead. They told me you died." Olivia's eyes widen, tears streaming down her face as lightning flashes across the room, highlighting Netflix's "Are you still watching?"