I was unpacking the last of my boxes, finally nearing the end of moving into my new apartment. Carefully placing my parents’ wedding china in the cabinet and folding soft, new towels into the linen closet, I let out a deep sigh, surveying my progress.

“Only one more box, and then I’m officially all settled in,” I muttered to myself, releasing an exhausted huff.

That last box had been sitting untouched, its contents too sentimental to confront until now. Filled with mementos I rarely looked at but couldn’t bring myself to discard, it felt like opening a time capsule of my past.

Just as I reached into it, my phone rang from the kitchen counter. I paused, relieved by the distraction. “Saved by the bell,” I thought, hurrying to answer, assuming it was Sarah, my best friend.

Sarah, with her meticulous, Type-A personality, had been checking in on me constantly since I moved. She knew I was the opposite—scatterbrained and prone to procrastination—and probably wanted an update on my progress.

But when I glanced at the screen, my heart skipped a beat.

“What the…” I muttered, staring at the caller ID. The name displayed was the last one I expected to see. We hadn’t spoken in three years, let alone seen each other.

I hesitated, wondering if I should answer. Maybe it was a mistake—a butt dial, perhaps.

“Hello?” I said cautiously, pressing the phone to my ear.

“Hi. Is this Sabrina?”

The deep, familiar voice sent a jolt through me. I played dumb, hoping he couldn’t tell I’d kept his number saved all this time.

“Yes, it is. Who’s this?”

“It’s Brandan,” he said, his voice unmistakable. My ex-boyfriend. My first boyfriend. My first true love.

RING! RING! RING! I groan as I lift my head to grab my phone. I see the time as the screen come to life. “Who the hell is calling at 2 a.m.?” I mumble grumpily as I check the caller ID. My eyes widen as I notice what it says. I bolt to an upright position and hit the answer button. “Abby?” I say into the phone in an almost hushed tone. “Kimmy! Oh thank God you answered! Listen I don’t have much experience time so please just listen.” “Abby,” I say my throat tightening. Tears stream down my eyes. “Abby, baby, is that really you?” “Yes it is! Now just listen to me! I need you help. Do you remember that creepy town we went through a year ago? The one that had all those creepy ass scarecrows?” “Abby, baby, I thought you were dead! Where have you been?” I ask, completely ignoring her. “It doesn’t matter! Kimmy just listen to me! I need you to get to that creepy town now! There is…. Oh my God.” Abby goes silent. “Abby? Abby are you still there? Hello Abby?!” “They found me. Oh shit! They found me! Shit, shit, shit!” “Abby what’s going on? Who’s they! Abby?!” I hear a scuffle over the phone and Abby screams. “GET OFF ME! GET OFF! KIMMY! KIMMY HELP ME! HELP ME!” I hear a sudden thump and all goes quiet. Tears stream down my face as I try to control my bladder. “ABBY!” I scream into the phone. Nothing. Until I hear a scraping over the phone like someone just picked it up. “Hello?” I ask cautiously into the phone. I take a breath. “Please don’t hurt my friend! I don’t have much but I will give you all I have if you just let my friend go. Hello? Is anybody there? Hello?” I hear heavy breathing on the other end. A menacingly calm, gruff voice talks into the phone. “If you come for the girl… we’ll kill you too.” Then he hung up. I looked down at my phone through blurry eyes. My body shaking uncontrollably. What the hell just happened? Who the hell was that? What was Abby doing in that town? Why are they going kill her? What the hell am I going to do? I got out of bed and walked to the bathroom. I splashed cold water onto my face as I looked at myself in the mirror and asked myself, “What are you going to do Kimberly?” But I already knew. Without a second thought, I ran out of the bathroom, slipped on my running shoes, grabbed my keys, and ran out the door, forgetting that I was still in my pj’s. I didn’t care though. I was going to save my girlfriend by any means necessary, no matter how scared I was. I would save Abby and I would tell her I was sorry and that I loved her. As I got into my car, turning it on, I muttered something that made me more anxious then I already was. “Creepy Town, here I come.”

The phone rings, and it’s the last person you’d expect to be calling…

This just so happen to be Tanisha’s weekend to be on call. And what does that entail? You may ask. Due to being a healthcare provider one of her responsibilities required that she answer phone calls from nurses for a twenty four hour period twice a month. She would receive multiple calls from the home health nurse’s, seeking advice in regards to medication and treatment options for their patient’s. The home care organization Tanisha worked for covered an extensive multi state service area. That’s why Tanisha did not even think twice, and wasn’t the least bit surprised when a call came in from an unknown area code. The healthcare providers served as an extra layer of support and a valuable resource for the nurses.

But this was not a nurse calling in for new orders or advice. And, neither was this any other ordinary call…

“Good afternoon this is Tanisha. How may I help and be of service to you?” Tanisha answered her cell phone in her most cheerful and enthusiastic voice.

“Good Morning Ms. Tanisha! Hope all is well! The caller on the other end gave a bit of a chuckle. “Do you have any idea to whom you might be speaking to?” The caller joyfully asked.

“Ummm your voice sounds soooooo familiar, could you please say something else?” Tanisha politely asked.

“Okay…just think about one of the realty shows that you frequently watch on OWN,” The caller kindly suggested.

“ Let me see…on OWN…I know this voice! I know You’re Voice!” Tanisha exclaimed, lightly tapping her forehead with the palm of her hand. “Oh my goodness!…No! No! it can’t be! Ms Iyanla? Is this you?” She screamed to the top of her lungs. “I’m one of your biggest fans! Ms. Iyanla!…from the reality show!” Tanisha shouted, into the phone with extreme excitement.

“You’re absolutely correct, and thank you for being an awesome fan! Yes! this is Iyanla Vanzant, from Iyanla Fix my Life. Well…it appears that you emailed my producers approximately eight months ago, in regards to some unresolved matters that your family and you were struggling with. Am I correct?” Iyanla cautiously asked.

Tanisha began jumping up and down in her office with glee.

“Yes ma’am, I did… Wow! I didn’t realize I sent my email eight months ago. To be completely truthful with you Ms. Iyanla, it’s been so long… And I’ve been so busy working…I completely forgotten all about my email. Tanisha nervously giggled. I guess when I didn’t receive a response right away, I attempted to handle my family situation the best way I knew how….Avoidance. I’m a professional healthcare provider, so I know a little something about psychology.” Tanisha explained.

“That’s awesome Ms. Tanisha, I’m sure you did a fantastic job. Let me ask you this… has your relationship with your mom and sisters improved? or do you still feel the need for some unbiased analysis and counseling?”

“No ma’am, things have not improved…actually it’s my estimation that unfortunately… I hate to say this …but things have spiraled downhill and our relationships have deteriorated. My sisters and I are currently not even on speaking terms…it’s so sad. The reason being Ms. Iyanla____I recently found out that my sister’s kelp a major family secret from me. The secret should not have been hidden from me… And, to make matters worse…I believe my mom was in on it, and may have told them not to tell me the truth. Tanisha was now crying as she tried to get her point across to Ms. Iyanla.

“ Awwww I am so sorry to hear this Ms.Tanisha, but that’s exactly why you emailed our producers, so that you could possibly be chosen to appear on our show and receive the one on one help that you deserve. And the way this works is that once our producers read over the hundreds of emails that come in daily. The emails have to go through a rigorous selection process, and the several emails that are chosen…are than forwarded to me and my associates to read over, discuss and make a decision on. Its an extremely tedious process. If a particular family situation stands out, that particular email is finalized and approved by me. Then we move ahead with the official invitation to bring the originator of the email and at least three other family members, into our guest studio for a screening. And as you know from watching our show, I am a life coach and relationship expert.” This is one of my passions. I can’t guarantee that all your problems will be solved, but …I can guarantee that we will forge ahead to get to the root cause. Lines of communication will be reopened, relationships will be rekindled!

“Yes ma’am ! That’s exactly what I hope to achieve! I have seen so many of your shows where a family may have been in crisis, ( just like my family) and we’re not talking to each other and you’ve assisted them to start back corresponding. Like I said earlier, I have two sisters and we’re currently not on speaking terms….and my mom…well it’s a long story…” Tanisha’s tears continued to stream down her cheeks.

“ That’s okay my dear… it’s okay to cry. We will get into the specifics of your situation a little bit later… But yes…I’ve even assisted families that have been estranged from one another for five or more years, but they’ve been willing to put in the work, and to come back together. I bring them to our safe house and we sit around my large table… and barriers and chains have been broken! Family units have been restored! During our time together, which usually encompasses a three day period… we will have the capability to focus on your specific problems. I will be able to shed some light and bring about a totally different perspective. My objectivity into the situation will be unique and full of challenges. This will allow you and your family to come to grips with their problems and be incentivized to step up to meet the challenges, head on to begin the healing process.” Iyanla spoke in a reassuring, convincing and consoling tone.

Tanisha continued to weep uncontrollably.

“Ms. Tanisha, I would like to offer you and your family an invitation… We would like for you and three of your family members to fly out to LA for an all expense paid trip to meet with my producers and I, in order to gather a bit more information to possibly become finalists for a taping for our final episode for our tenth season!” So …how does all of this sound to you Ms. Tanisha? what do you think about all of this?” Ms. Iyanla eagerly asked, and awaited Tanisha’s response.

“Yes! Absolutely! Yes! Ms. Iyanla Count me in! I just hope my family will be in agreement to join me.”

“Fantastic! Ms Tanisha no worries… You just leave your family up to my phenomenal crew and myself. We will contact your family and I can assure you it’s going to all work out… I look forward to seeing you in LA!”

As Tanisha pressed the red hang up button on her cell phone, she then dabbled away her tears with a Kleenex. Tanisha couldn’t help but say to herself “I truly hope Ms. Iyanla can fix my life.”

“Where is it??” Brody snapped in frustration, tossing items right and left in his car.

His phone had been ringing for what felt like ten minutes and he couldn’t find it. The driver in the car next to him in the parking lot gave him a curious look, but Brody was too flustered to notice.

Finally his hand grasped a smooth surface and he retrieved the device from the bottom of his McDonald’s bag.

“Hello?” He said, with a little more anger than was necessary.

“Brody?”

“Yeah…who is this?” Brody knitted his eyebrows together as he shoved a fry in his mouth.

“It’s Joanne.”

Brody’s face went pale. He’d thought his ex was still in prison.

“Oh….uh…hi! How are…things?” He faltered, trying to think what she could want.

“Just excellent, Brody,” Joanne gushed as if she had never left, “listen, I’m having a get together tonight at my house, can you come?”

Brody forgot about his lunch, leaning forward and resting an elbow on the steering wheel as he stared blankly at the space in front of him.

“Um…I actually have to work tonight, but thanks anyway Joanne.”

“It’s okay, maybe I’ll stop by later on and say hey.”

Please don’t. Brody took a deep breath.

“Joanne?”

“What?”

“Weren’t you…I mean didn’t you go….uh….hm.”

Joanne laughed lightly, and Brody hated that he still felt butterflies when she did that.

“You haven’t changed a bit,” she chuckled, “anyway, I’ve gotta go now. I’ll see you tonight.”

“But-”

“Love ya!” she interrupted and promptly hung up.

“Dang it!” Brody cried, smacking his hand against the steering wheel and feeling slightly nauseous.

He was in no mood to finish his meal, and he certainly didn’t feel like going to work. There was something off about Joanne, and he didn’t trust her whether she’d been released free of charge or not.

The day slipped by entirely too fast, and with the clock striking four came the time to head to work. Brody was assistant manager at a little convenience store in the downtown area, and he would be closing tonight alone.

He tried to focus on his work, but every time he looked at the clock he got nervous. Time was flying way too fast. Customers were beginning to notice his unease, and several of them asked if he was okay or snapped at him for dropping something.

One by one the customers disappeared and Brody began sweeping up. He fought the desire to lock the doors early, beads of sweat forming on his brow when he saw headlights illuminate the front window. He froze, broom in hand. The car door slammed and a girl ran to the door and slipped inside.

“Brody!!!” She cried, running to hug him.

He returned the embrace half heartedly and swallowed hard.

“Look, I have a lot to do and we’re almost closed,” he faltered, gritting his teeth when he saw the shift in her expression.

“But I’ve come all this way,” she said, sounding almost robotic with the emotionless tone, “I really thought you’d be at least a little happy to see me, babe.”

“Joanne,” he began hesitantly, glancing at the door, “we broke up. Don’t you remember?”

Joanne laughed. She laughed loud and long. In fact, she wasn’t stopping. Brody took a step back.

“Joanne-“

“SHUT UP!!!!” She screamed, slapping him across the face and grinning when her long acrylics left a red cut on his cheek.

Brody took a deep breath, willing himself to move, to step towards the counter. Joanna stepped too, shoving his phone out of reach onto the floor before he could grab it.

“You’re not going to call the police,” she hissed, eyes wide and hair disheveled after she ran her fingers through it. “You dumped me. You cheated on me!!!”

“What??” Brody cried; anger and fear boiling over, “I would never do that! Joanne, you went to PRISON! You KILLED YOUR BEST FRIEND!!!”

That was it. Joanne turned on him, seething with rage as she lashed out with her claw-like nails, trying to cut him again. Brody ducked wildly and made a mad dash towards the counter and his phone.

Joanne let out a ragged scream as she snatched up the tip jar and threw it at him. It made painful contact with the back of his head, shattering and spraying glass and coins all over the room. Brody cried out and stumbled, collapsing all the way when he received a sharp push from behind.

He rolled over to see his ex standing before him, wide grin spread over the maniacal face and head tilted at an odd angle. She clutched a taser in her left hand, a revolver in her right. Brody felt all hope die as he realized that there was no one around to help him. No one to hear him scream for help.

On the corner table in the room sat a black object that hadn’t been there the night before, on further inspection I realized it to be a old rotary phone similar to the phone I’d used as a child. Mmmmmmm I pondered to myself has to how this phone became to be sitting there. Who could have placed the old fashion phone in the room, knowing my husband did not do the deed. I jumped when the phone started to ring the old familiar ringtone of a time past. Carefully I picked up the receiver, “hello” At first all I could hear was static then a faint voice ‘Cindy…Cindy.’ Static once again

‘Hello..hello who’s calling?’ My voice trembled as I stared around the room thinking to myself “couldn’t be or could it?’

The voice on the other end appeared to be stronger “Cindy…..can you….here…meeeeeeeee? Cindy don’t …………..hang…..up……we are here……wait…a moment….Cindy”

Hesitating a moment, my mind reeling at the thought that could I be receiving a call from Heaven? Could all my prayers of asking no begging finally be answered?

‘Daddy???” Been almost 40 years since I heard his voice, maybe my mind is playing a sick joke. Glancing around with tears in my eyes I say ask again “Daddy?”

Cindy…just listen please for we only have a few minutes for each of us to talk., yes, baby it’s me and our family calling to let you know that we’re all together, each wanting to say a few words to let you know that we all watch over you. Love..you,…..now your Momma wants to talk to you…’

One by one each of family members spoke a few words each ending with how much they love me, until the last family member stated that they’re time was up, for there were others waiting to call their own families. Then suddenly the antique phone disappeared from my hand to appear in someone else’s home, so they too can receive a call from heaven.

Cindy M

Hello roger, this is God calling. I just wanted to let you know that your life cable bill is about to expire and you wont be able to renew unless you start watching better shows. Forget about this so-called reality show business that’s not real my friend, it’s a bunch of made up junk that people think is real but it just isn’t. Do you really think I put masdasgar cockroaches on this earth for people to eat? I think not. So check your local directory and start watc…. No better yet turn off your set, look out the window,take a walk and enjoy real reality. Wake up roger and smell my roses. Must hang up now and call other clients. Heed my advice and take care of something. Your friend-God-

“Hello?” I say into the phone. “This is Frankie, how can I help you?”

“Oh God,” a woman’s shocked voice replies. “Frankie. It’s really you.”

“Who is this, please?”

“It’s… Mom.”

I stand there, dumbfounded. My mother, the one who left me and my five siblings six years ago. That mom. Joy.

“What do you want?” I ask. “Money?“

“No, no. I just wanted to see how you’re doing.”

“Me? I’m great. Fine without you.”

“I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday.”

“My birthday was three weeks ago.”

“I know. I was just working up the nerve to call you. How’s Chrissy? Jacob? Opal? Tyler? Norah?”

“Good,” I say, simply. “How’s Todd?”

“How do you know about Todd?” she asks, surprised.

“You didn’t expect Chrissy, your seventeen year old daughter who just started puberty when you left to not stalk you on social media? We all know about Todd. Wedding looked nice. Baby’s cute.”

“Thank you.”

“So when are you going to leave the new baby in the middle of the night without any warning?”

“Frank-“

“No. No excuses. Opal was just six months old. Six months. She doesn’t remember you. She never knew you. And me? I was seven when you left. Terrified. Vulnerable. Do you know how many times I needed a mom?”

“Plenty, I presume,” she said, embarrassed.

“Yeah.”

"I called for two reasons.”

“Nice,” I say, sarcastically.

“The first was to wish you happy birthday, the second was to invite you to Polly’s first birthday party next month.”

“Not interested. Who’s Polly?”

“My daughter.”

“Even less interested. Maybe if you’d come to any of the graduations or birthday parties that we invited you to, I might consider it.”

“I miss you.”

“That makes one of us. Dad got over it years ago, so did the rest of us. Except for Tyler. He never did.”

“How is he?”

“Dead,” I say, tears forming in my eyes.

She gasps on the other side of the phone. “How?”

“Suicide. Fell into a depression after you left. Thought it was his fault because you two had fought the day before you left.”

“No. No. It can’t be.”

“It can. We invited you to the funeral, too.”

“I got into the habit of deleting all of your father’s emails. I must’ve missed it.”

“I guess.”

There was a long pause.

“Could I talk to your dad?”

“No,” I say. “He doesn’t want anything to do with you.”

“I’m sorry,” she says. “I really am.”

“Great. Now show us that you are.”

I press the red “hang up” button on my phone, throw it against the wall, and cry.

It was a cold sunny Friday afternoon. My friends Mark, Jonathan, and I just came home from school making plans for the Valentine’s Dance at our high school, looking good for our dates. We took the Uber to the school dance, and as we arrived we waited at the long line counting up how much cash we got in our pockets. My friends and I got 40 dollars each. I had 2 twenty dollar bills, Jonathan had 8 fives and Mark had 4 tens. As we were in the long line, the annoying teachers pet was asking for our money. “I know you idiots got money. Should’ve hidden it better. Give me the money or else…” said the teachers pet. “Or else what?” confronted Jonathan. “I will tell the teacher that you cheated on the math test. And I will ruin your chances into getting in college.” said the teachers pet. “Nice try. We are not giving you your money.” said Mark. “I will tell your coach that you were vaping in campus.” said the teachers pet. “You know what fine. Take my money if you want, but don’t take my friends money.” I said throwing him the only 2 twenty dollar bills I’ve got. “Nice. Have fun at the dance.” said the teacher’s pet.

Then we finally entered the school dance and we saw our dates. My date is Isabel. Jonathan’s date is Sally. And Mark’s date is Valeria. I don’t know how to dance, but when Isabel’s favorite song “Tell me You Luv Me” by juice wrld and trippie redd started playing, she insisted that I danced, so I moved a bit as she started twerking on me. Later throughout the dance, someone snuck Hennessy into the dance and everyone started taking a sip. And so did I but not enough to get intoxicated.

A while later, I saw Sally and Valeria passed out drunk at the dance but then I saw some guy try to take advantage of the two other girls, but I punched him and started to beat the shit out of him before he had the chance. His face was all fucked up covered in blood, and his arms and legs were broken, but I turned out fine despite having some of his blood on my jeans and on my fists.

I eventually got kicked out of the dance and texted Mark and Jonathan. As I waited for them to come out of the dance, Isabel came up to me and scolded me for beating her boyfriend up. It turned out to be a big misunderstanding. “Marcos, how dare you beat the shit out of Victor!?” yelled Isabel. “He was not trying to take advantage of these girls. I called the girls an Uber and told him to take the girls to the Uber ride. Agreeing to go out with you was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made. Don’t talk to me again.” And so she left me in tears.

Then, the phone rings and it’s the last person you’d expect. My weed plug. I was hesitant to answer the phone call, so I waited for him to leave him a voicemail or a text message. He texted, saying that he’s in town and is still selling weed. Considering the fact that I had the worst Valentine’s dance ever, I agreed to go see him, and told Jonathan and Mark.

Jonathan, Mark, and I met our weed plug Miguel at a nearby park. As we smoked some joints of forbidden fruit strain, we spoke about how bad the Valentine’s dance was and how it was a huge mistake going there. I lost $40, my date, and the rest of the night at the dance. “Bro you really thought your Valentine’s was bad?” Miguel said shockingly. “My girlfriend broke up with me at a fancy restaurant and left me, making pay for my food. And my brother got killed in a DUI car crash that same night. I’ve had it way worse.”

Then a group of cops showed up and handcuffed me, saying, “You’re under arrest for assaulting a high school student at a dance.”

Thank you for Calling Blue Shield Health Services. This is Joel, how can I help you?

Hey Joel, I’m Helen. I’m calling because the other day I had a head injury when I was out jogging. I was wondering if I could book an appointment with any doctor? I would like a CT scan as well.

…

Hello Wade?

Yeah. I’m still here. I’m sorry. Can I please have your Medical Number?

Sure. It’s 92385

Okay…

Did that work?

Yeah...Yes Mam it worked.

Can you find me an appointment? I'm so sorry, I don't mean to sound short, it's just that it was a bad head injury, and I would like to see someone as soon as possible.

Of course. Can I please have your full name and date of birth?

Absolutely. Helen Sanchez. Date of Birth 3-24-90

...

Hello, Joel. Are you still there?

Yeah. I'm so sorry, but can I ask for your Medical Number again? I think I have the wrong patient. Again, I'm so sorry.

Of course, not a problem. 92385

When was your head injury mam?

It was two days ago on Tuesday.

Helen Sanchez. Date of Birth 3-24-90?

That's correct. Joel, is there a problem?

Mam...It says here that you're Deceased.

When I saw the caller ID notification I quickly answered, excited. We hadn’t spoken in years. “Hello, Linda. it’s your old teacher, Kathy. I came across your name in an old address book. “I wondered how you were doing. Last time I saw you, you didn’t seem right.” “Well, I didn’t know that Patty intended to talk to me at that community meeting you invited me to. You should have told me. Maybe I would have spoken to her.” “Maybe, maybe not. You would have had closure.” “I don’t see how talking to my abuser could give me closure.” I started to get annoyed. “I don’t really want to hear her excuses and put downs. I had a choice to walk away so I did. After all, she didn’t even say hi can we talk. “ “She was sure you would notice her standing there in your path. She wasn’t subtle,” “Well, ambushing me in the public was very off putting. Did you tell her to do that?” “I just wanted you to deal with the problem so it wouldn’t be necessary to think and talk about it anymore.” I ‘ve already managed to do that without talking to her. Bye now.”