A LEAP OF FAITH

Second Step

San Francisco, California

September 30, 2001

11:00 a.m.

Gia

My phone blared out against my ear and I gingerly opened an eye to shut it off, wondering why I set my alarm so early in the day. The sun was shining brightly through the glass walls of Junnie's loft and I felt the coffee table for my sunglasses before putting them on. My head was pounding incessantly and I had just closed my eyes when the phone blared out again. I picked it up, tempted to put it under a pillow or throw it against a wall, when I saw Junnie's name flash on the screen and I held it up to my ear as I pressed the button to receive the call.

"How did the wedding go?" She asked, her voice unnaturally loud. "Did you wear the navy dress you showed me? Were there any cute guys there?"

"Junnie... Slow the hell down. Isn't it a bit too early to be interrogating me?" I asked. My voice was hoarse and my tongue felt like sandpaper.

"It's almost noon," she said drily.

"Exactly." I don't really know why I said exactly. Nothing is making sense to me right now, either. I buried my head under one of the throw pillows and wished that my head would stop its throbbing.

"Exactly? How does that even make sense?" Junnie demanded. "How much did you drink last night?"

I sat up slowly, my hands cradling my head and tried to look for anything to drink. I cringed when i saw the empty bottle of champagne on the couch next to me, along with my shoes and my precious trench coat, smelling vaguely of alcohol. I was still wearing my tights, holes on its soles, a mysterious pain on my right great toe and wondered what exactly happened last night. "Jun... Didn't you call me last night?"

"No... I was working all day yesterday," she answered. "And I left my phone at home."

I can slightly remember having a one sided conversation with someone, and knowing my penchance to call her whenever I get drunk, I just assumed that I had done it again. I don't usually have vivid dreams when I am intoxicated, and certainly never one that involved my calling her.

"Are you sure?" I asked again, fairly positive that I had spoken to someone.

"I was sober yesterday, which is more than I can say for you... I don't really think it should be my memory or perception of reality that you should be questioning."

"You're right," I agreed. "I'm gonna go and bang my head against the wall now."

"Take some Ibuprofen and have some soup," she suggested. "Or is it fried foods? I can never remember what a good cure for a hangover is."

"Junnie, I'm a nurse. I'm sure I can figure it out. I'll talk to you later."

I hung up the call before she can say anything else and walked to the bathroom to take a shower. I winced in pain when I gargled with the mouthwash, the motion from it making me feel sick. I was just about to take my tights off when I heard the doorbell ring. I wearily walked over to the front door, wondering who it could be. Opening the door slightly, I was greeted by a friendly looking kid, maybe in his twenties, standing at the other side with a plastic bag from CVS Pharmacy and a brown paper bag, a bike resting on the building wall just outside the window.

"Are you..." He paused, looking at his paper. "...Gia?"

I nodded silently, afraid that speaking would make me throw up. He handed me a clipboard, which I took without question.