I speak in Silence

6

February 13, 2019

"Wake up! Wake up! Wake uuuuup!"

My alarm sounded, and I was not too happy about it. I just wanted a few more minutes.

"Wake up! Wake up! Wake uuuup!"

I have got to get a new alarm, I thought. I raised my arm in defeat, and had the rest of my upper body follow along, pulling me vertically. I grabbed my phone and aggressively pressed the "stop" button on my alarm. I rubbed my eyes and sniffled. I looked into my reflection from my phone. Do I really look that awful? Quickly I stammered to my bathroom and saw myself in the mirror to see my eyes resembling those of a raccoon. It looked as if I had two black eyes due to the mascara shading my eyes. Wow. I must have cried myself to sleep.

I grabbed a cotton ball and put some makeup cleanser on it, then I wiped my eyes with it until my under eye was freed of the inky, dark material. I looked more closely at my complexion, I had a zit growing on my forehead, and my eyes looked tired and sad. Let's get today over and done with.

I picked my phone back up and applied pressure to the home button accidentally, triggering Siri's appearance "Sorry, I could hear that." I jumped back, startled, and looked back at my phone. "That's it! Siri,  you're a genius invention!" Siri's little glint of light darted back and forth across the screen, "I'm not sure I understand."

Now more enthusiastic, I waited in front of Ennay's door. With a few snaps and clicks of her various locks, the door opened and she welcomed me in as warmly as always. I put the device in her hands, which she hesitantly held. She looked at me with a raised brow. I opened notes for her and started typing. I then selected the message, and tapped "speak". "Hello, I'm Siri, you can type things in and I'll say them for you." Ennay seemed startled, she then fearfully, slowly, and confusedly typed a few letters. I then selected it and had Siri say it. "Is she trapped in there?" Now Ennay was even more freaked out. "No, she'll just say whatever you want her to say when you do this." I then showed her how to make Siri speak, and her eyes lit up a bit. Then, she started playing with it herself. "Hehe haha" Ennay smiled "I have a voice now" Said Ennay through the phone.

Like a teenage girl happy and addicted to her brand new device, she used my phone all day. While she entertained herself on the little device, I cleaned the house and prepared her breakfast. Even from her bedroom, I could hear Siri's voice echoing throughout the house. Poor little Van Gogh, who was not familiar with this voice, looked all over the place to try and identify just who was speaking.

When breakfast was prepared, I had called her over, which "Siri" responded to with "Just give me a minute." I brought her breakfast over to her couch, and yet she remained glued to my phone. Although she obviously did not know how to navigate through it, it made me a bit nervous that she had my phone. I had a lot of sensitive information on there, and Lord knows what people might text me.

Ding!

"What was that?" Asked Ennay. I hoped it was not a weird meme my friend Max had sent. He always sends the weirdest junk. I snatched the phone from Ennay's hand.

"I'll look at that. It's time for breakfast, I'll give you my phone again afterward."

Like a cross child, Ennay folded her arms and begrudgingly ate her meal. This time I kept the meal simple, something I could not possibly screw up. I made her oatmeal with an arrangement of blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, and a drizzle of honey with a bit of cinnamon. Ennay did not seem to be complaining—or choking—which was a good sign to me.

I checked my phone to see what notification had appeared on my phone. It was none other than Joseph.

Joseph: Srry I couldn't call you back. I was busy. Want 2 hang out 2day?

His texting annoyed me. Was it seriously too much trouble to type the "o" in sorry? Why couldn't he just type out the word "too"? Although his texting etiquette made me shudder, again, my heart sank, but differently this time. It sank in a way that had hope and disappointment at the same time. This could either lead to further heartbreak and embarrassment or to a great adventure.

Ashleigh: Yeah, sure. I'd love to.

Love, it seemed a bit too soon to use the word "love" with him in any context. I barely knew this guy. However, it was already to late. I had already pressed send. I cringed at myself. I was out of college, I am my own woman now, yet I still act like a little middle school girl. How much more cliche could I get? I thought, I'm just a new girl in town falling for the mysterious bad boy.

Ding!

I snapped out of my head and back into the clutches of reality. Quickly, I set my gaze back to my phone.

Joseph: When r u free?

Ashleigh: I have to take care of Ennay til 6. How about dinner at 7:30?

Joseph: ok. Meet at ur place?

Meeting at my place? I lived in a disgusting motel! Did I really want to let him see the filth I lived in? Oh, the aroma of mold growing from the Air conditioning vent and the lovely ambiance created by the broken, flickering ceiling light.

Ashleigh: Actually, can we meet at yours?

Joseph: Can't. Pest control ppl are coming 2day.

I hesitated, maybe we could reschedule for tomorrow? Tomorrow was Valentine's day, though. It would seem too coupley. I didn't want to lose his attention either. Then, I remembered the livelihood of most of these people. Compared to a lot of the homes in Bratville, my motel might seem like the Ritz.

Ashleigh: Fine. My place at 7:30?

Joseph: Yeah. What's ur address?

Ashleigh: 408 King Dr.

Joseph: K. Thx.

My heart fluttered. I did not know what was going to happen next, but I was excited. Whether I had just made the biggest mistake of my entire life or the greatest choice I could have ever made, I did not know. All I knew was something was happening. I had a date. I had a rebound.

Ennay looked at me with puppy dog eyes. She then pointed at my phone. I quickly turned off my notifications, I did not want to risk her intruding on my conversations. I handed her the phone, and she smiled. Despite her gray hair, her frail hands and the wrinkles on her face, she is more of a child than an elderly woman. That was something admirable about her. Despite all that she's been through, and all these years of being treated with cruelty, she had this glint of youth instilled in her. Her enthusiasm was just something no one could ever take away from her.