Elaine
I told Helen and John that I needed some fresh air, hoping the cool breeze outside would help me clear my head. Helen looked hesitant to let me go, her eyes reflecting a quiet worry, but I assured her I wouldn’t be gone long. Just a short walk, I said, though deep inside, I knew my mind was restless and no walk would be short enough to calm the storm I carried inside.
Standing in the back entryway, I stared out the narrow window, my breath fogging up the cold glass as I debated whether to go back for my phone. My fingers tapped lightly on the wood of the doorframe while I considered. Did I really need it? I wasn’t planning on being gone for long, and part of me craved the silence. No distractions, no vibrations, no voices calling me back to obligations. Just me and the wind. Still
