Prologue
My phone rings as I fold laundry on the floor in my kids bedroom.
“Aunt Laura?” I answer, a little surprised to see her name on the screen.
“Hi, sweetie,” she said warmly. “I talked to your dad recently. How are you holding up?”
To be honest, things have been kind of hard since Thanksgiving. The life that I have known for more than a decade, finally broke into a million pieces. Not in a dramatic, obvious way. In a slow shifting over time, like changing the path of a river bed over many years. But it’s still hard to talk about, it’s all so fresh and new. So instead of saying what my heart really feels, I say…
“Well, I’m hanging in there. The holiday season is always busy.”
“Why don’t you come visit me after Christmas? Take a break for a couple weeks?”
“Oh, that’s very kind of you to offer, but I can’t really afford to. Plus I have work, and my kids will be off from school...”
“Which is precisely why you should come. You need time away from your usual responsibilities. They will all still be there when you get back. Plus, when was the last time you spent some time with your favorite Auntie?”
The more I think about it, the more I realize she is right. When was the last time I took a vacation? Before I had my own children? I just got back into working at a school cafeteria this past year. Can I even afford to take that much time off to go? Can I afford the tickets?
“I will pay for half of your flight to get here.”
“That is very kind of you. I… I will definitely consider your offer. But I need to make sure I can get off work, and that my ex can watch the kids.”
“Book the trip soon. Prices won’t get any better than they are now.”
“I will let you know Aunt Laura. Thank you.”
I hang up the phone, realizing that I have been holding the same shirt in my hands for the last 10 minutes. My mind is spinning in a half formed plan. Look up tickets. Talk to my boss tomorrow. Talk to my ex. I can make this work. If there is one thing I do know about myself, it’s my ability to make things happen. I need this. I need this escape from the discomfort of living with my ex while we are separating. It’s December 5th. If I leave right after Christmas, I will only have to take minimal time off of work since the schools will be closed for the holiday break. I can make this happen.
