Something New

“It’s no big deal. I just wanted people to see what I see.”

“And what’s that?”

“You said you read the article, didn’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“So, then you should already know what I see.”

“So, you gon’ answer my question?” I probed, switching directions.

“Which question was that?”

“What did you call me for? You said you didn’t call to chew me out, so I wanna know what made you pick up the phone a six in the morning to call me.”

“It’s nothing. Nevermind. I’m glad you liked it.”

“Is there something you wanna say to me, Isa?”

“Why would you ask me that?”

“I can hear the tension in your voice.”

“I don’t want to talk about it because it’s not going to change anything.”

“Talk about what? Tell me.”

“I’m getting married next weekend, Elijah,” she announced.

I ran my hand down my beard. “The big day is finally here, huh?”

“Yup.”

“How you feelin’? You nervous?”

“Why would I be nervous? I love him,” she snapped.

“Whoa, chill. Don’t come for my neck. All I asked was a simple question.”

She sighed. “I’m sorry. As you can tell, I may be a little on edge.”

I let out two notes of a chuckle. “A little?”

“Okay, a lot.” She laughed aloud.

Hearing the sweet laugh fall from Isa’s lips made me smile because it was a beautiful sound to hear, and I could also close my eyes and picture it in my head. Her forehead would wrinkle, and her cheeks would spread wide, showing all her straight, snow-white teeth. And if something were really funny, her eyes would crinkle, and her body would shake from her shoulders to her knees.

“I’m sure you’re going to be a beautiful bride,” I complimented her. The line fell silent for a few seconds before I spoke up again. “H–hello? Isa? You still there?”

After a few fleeting seconds of silence, the call dropped.