The Inevitable Call
763 Words
Laura's POV
I sat frozen in my seat, Eric's phone number already entered into my contacts. My hands trembled as I stared at the green call button.
If I called him, there would be no turning back.
Everything would change.
My life.
Chris's life.
My children's lives.
Was I really ready for that?
A relentless argument echoed inside my head.
No.
This is insane.
But you don't have the money.
I'll find another way.
How?
I don't know.
Exactly.
You don't know.
I can't leave Chris.
Can't you?
I love him.
Do you?
I squeezed my eyes shut.
The questions wouldn't stop. They circled endlessly through my mind, tearing apart every excuse I'd built over the years.
My finger hovered above the call button.
Normal people didn't make deals like this.
Normal people didn't agree to marry strangers for money.
Yet what exactly was normal about my life anymore?
Debt collectors were threatening legal action.
My husband spent money on alcohol while I struggled to keep food on the table.
Every month felt like a battle I was slowly losing.
Maybe it was finally time to think about myself.
About my children.
Four months.
Just four months.
Then freedom.
No debts.
No collection agencies.
No sleepless nights wondering how I would pay the next bill.
I could find a better job.
Move somewhere nicer.
Give Ellie and Marcus the life they deserved.
I had almost convinced myself.
Almost.
Yet something still stopped me from pressing that button.
Then the bus approached our stop.
And I saw Chris.
He was walking home from work carrying a grocery bag.
Even from the bus window, I could tell what was inside.
Beer.
More beer.
Enough for another evening.
Never mind that he had work the next morning.
That was it.
The final straw.
Something inside me snapped.
For years, I had carried everyone else's burdens.
For years, I had sacrificed, worried, planned, and fixed problems while everyone else simply lived their lives.
I was exhausted.
And for the first time, I realized nobody was coming to save me.
If my life was ever going to change, I would have to change it myself.
The bus stopped.
I didn't get off.
Instead, I pressed the call button.
The line started ringing.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears.
Maybe he was busy.
Maybe he wouldn't answer.
Maybe this was a sign that I shouldn't do this.
I was already about to hang up when a calm voice finally answered.
"Eric Carter speaking."
My stomach tightened instantly.
His voice was exactly as I remembered it.
Calm.
Controlled.
Confident.
A man who never worried about overdue bills or empty bank accounts.
A man who slept peacefully at night.
"Hello?" he said again.
Damn it.
I'd waited too long to respond.
"Hi..." I cleared my throat nervously. "This is Laura."
Silence.
Then I quickly continued.
"We met about two weeks ago over coffee. Laura Brown."
For a moment, I had no idea what to say next.
I hated phone calls.
Even calling clients at work sometimes felt like torture.
Then Eric spoke.
"Ah, yes. Laura. It's good to hear from you. How can I help?"
His voice remained professional, patient.
He wasn't pushing.
He wasn't reminding me of his offer.
He was simply waiting.
And strangely, that made this easier.
"I think we should meet."
I took a deep breath.
"This isn't a conversation we should have over the phone."
A small pause followed.
"You're absolutely right," Eric replied. "Some discussions deserve to happen face-to-face. Especially when important decisions are involved."
Important decisions.
That was certainly one way to describe agreeing to marry a complete stranger.
"Would tomorrow work?" I asked. "Around three in the afternoon?"
I silently prayed he would say yes.
"It works perfectly," he answered almost immediately. "I'll inform reception that you're expected. Just tell them you're here to see me, and someone will escort you to my office."
Escort me.
The words sounded like something from a movie.
The kind of world I'd only ever seen from a distance.
A world of expensive suits, glass buildings, and people who never had to check their bank balance before buying coffee.
"Okay," I said quietly. "Then I'll see you tomorrow."
"I look forward to it, Laura."
Something in his voice softened.
A smile, perhaps.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
The call ended.
I lowered the phone slowly and stared out the bus window.
There it was.
The point of no return.
For better or worse, my life had just changed.
- Writer
