0041: Reversed

0041: Even in jail, calling her parents causes her belly to bubble with a hot, oily dread. 

Bracing herself, Everly prepares for the barrage of disappointed silence that no doubt will consume the airwaves. 

Independence, achievement, and success. In the Barker family, those were the only options. Prison wasn’t on the list. 

Everly picks up the receiver and dials. 

“Everly?” Breathlessness and desperation fill the phone line. Everly’s mother is cut off by the recording asking if she’ll accept the charges. Everly hopes she doesn’t. 

“Everly Everly?? Is this working? Can you hear me?”

“Mom, yes. It’s working.” 

“Oh, thank goodness. Where are you?” Shame volcanoes up Everly’s throat. Thankfully, her mother continues on. “Don’t worry, your aunt is coming with bail money.” 

As her mother speaks, her voice lilts. Is she…crying?