Disclaimer: The lyrics are from Remy Zero's song "Fair."

Chapter Two

Hey, are you lonely?

Has summer gone so slowly?

We found the ground

But that damage was done.

It's cold as you fade

Into the sun.

The phone was ringing, but I didn't pick up. I rarely do. It's too disappointing. I'd rather let the machine deal with it.

"Hi, I can't come to the phone right now. Leave a message and I'll call you back." But more likely, I wouldn't.

"Mom… it's Jack. I mean… well, obviously. Could you call me back when you get this? I just… wanted to talk to you. And… yeah. I guess that's everything. Alright. Bye." And a click.

I sighed. I hadn't talked to either of my children in so long. I was hiding from the world… ashamed of myself. I didn't want anyone to see what I had become. I was so embarrassed.

Reluctantly, I picked up the phone and dialed Jack's number. This was the first human contact I had had in days.

"Mom?" he said hesitantly.

"Hi sweetie," I replied, making my voice with a façade of normalcy, or so I hoped. "Sorry I didn't pick up. I was in the bathroom."

"You were ignoring my call."

"I didn't know it was you. I didn't get up to look at the Caller ID. I was ignoring the phone."

He sighed. "Mom, what are you doing?"

"What am I doing? Well, at the moment, talking to you. When we get off the phone I'll probably fix myself some lunch, perhaps go for a walk—"

"No. You know what I mean." I didn't say anything. "What are you doing, Mom?" Jack asked again.

"I'm…" I'm incapable of thinking of a believable lie so I can answer this question. "Well, I was thinking of maybe writing some radio jingles again. You know, that's what I do best. No one wants to hear my music, Jack. No one wants to hear a middle-aged woman singing grade-B rock-and-roll." I laughed half-heartedly. "So in the end I'll sell my soul, because I know that's what they want to buy."

"Mom, jingles aren't what you do best. You're a musician."

"That doesn't help me now. I'm a musician, alright, but no one is interested in listening to me. So that doesn't really get me anywhere, does it?"

"Have you talked to Irene?"

I felt a chill come over my body. "No," I snapped. "And I don't intend to."

"It's been four years, Mom. You've both got to let it go… I mean, things will be different now. Just talk to her. She'll listen—"

"No!" I interrupted loudly. "I mean…" I took a deep breath. "I just can't. You don't know the whole story, Jack…"

"So tell me."

Okay. Well, you see, honey, remember your friend, Carey, the one who suddenly left Hope Springs and never returned? He left because Irene forced him to leave. And she forced him to leave because she would make his life a living hell after she found out that he was dating me. Which he was. And we were in love. This is why I can't talk to Irene. Get it now?

"I can't," I said finally. "I'm sorry."

He sighed. "Mom, this has to stop. Look what you're doing to yourself. I just want you to be happy again, and the only way you'll truly be happy is if you do what you love."

"Jack…" I was close to tears. "I need a lot more than that to be happy. It's not that simple."

"It can be—"

"No. It's never been simple. Not for me, not for your sister, not for—" I stopped myself. "I have to go. I'm sorry."

"Just think about what I said."

"I already did. Goodbye." I placed the phone on the receiver and stared at it for a moment. Then I slid to the ground, arms wrapped tightly around my legs, head against my knees, and broke down completely.

Where'd you go?

…To me?