The phone call.

She was sitting at her desk, typing away. She was glad to have this busy work. She had been wearing high heels all day and nothing felt better than to sit down, even for a little while. As she looked up at the clock that mindlessly stared, she felt as though time was moving inexorably. She knew as soon as the small hand hit 5, she would have to manage her life again.
Work was simple. She didn't need to think about anything besides numbers, entering those numbers into the computer, and fraternizing with co-workers at the water cooler. It was 4:58 now. Maybe I could stay late today. All these numbers need to be entered sometime, she thought. However, regardless of her want to stay, she'd rather not ask. She knew the answer would be a sturdy, No.
She started gathering her things together, putting pens and papers away, and situating her desk so as to not give herself a headache in the morning. A mess just leads to a bad start. I just have to make it until 8 a.m. tomorrow. Just 15 hours. I can do this. She picked up her car keys and headed for the time clock. The clock would finalize her depression.

Her punching out process was complete. Her walk to her car begun. The parking lot was full of people at this time, all wanting to hurry home to get to their kids, or their husbands, or even their cats. She had none of that. She saw it at the edge of the parking lot, her 1999 toyota corolla with a ding in the right side door. How pathetic, she thought.

She unlocked and climbed in. Her phone started to ring. Hoping it was her boss asking her to come back, she grabbed it. The number was unknown. Ignore.

The ride home was long and boring. The radio blared some inaudible music that she didn't care for, however, she didn't bother to turn it off. It was a droning process, and she liked keeping her eyes and attention fully on the road.

Her one bedroom apartment approached. Her reserved parking space was taken, yet again, by a ford ranger. It aggravated her. She pulled up beside it, looked it over and shrugged. It just wasn't worth the effort. Her phone started ringing. Unknown number. Ignore.

She climbed the stairs. She unlocked her front door. *Ring*. Unknown number. Ignore.

Her curiousity started getting the best of her. This number, it kept calling. She knew of no one who would try to contact her this urgently.

*Ring*. It was the unknown number. Finally, she answered it. Her interest had peaked.

"Hello?"

No answer.

"Hello?"

Still nothing.

"Listen, you've kept calling me. The least you could do is answer me."

Her frustration rose. Nothing.

"Fine, whatever." As she was just about to hit end, she heard breathing on the line.

"I know you're there!"

As her voice rose, she could hear it through the other end of the phone. Someone was there.

"Hello?!"

Again, she could hear her echo through the phone.

"I know you're here." She stated flatly.

She heard footsteps behind her. She turned. It was him. He spoke.



"You don't know anything."