Zaire***
The next morning crept in softly, leaving the house wrapped in a heavy, fragile quiet.
I stood alone in the kitchen, the phone pressed tight to my ear. My back was turned toward the stairs, my shoulders tense as if I could physically block the sound of my voice from traveling upward. The coffee maker hummed loudly in the background, but I barely heard it. My entire focus was pinned to the clinical, steady voice on the other end of the line.
"Yes, doctor... I understand," I said, keeping my tone a disciplined whisper. "The checkup date is coming up soon."
A pause stretched over the line.
"No, I haven't noticed any new symptoms," I continued, staring blankly at the countertop. "I feel fine. Better than I have in a long time, actually."
Another pause. I felt my jaw tighten so h
