starting over

I am not sure which story to write here - probably both. I just hope that anyone reading can tell one from another. I know the memories will come to me in bits and pieces - and I hope the readers can follow along. Since I have yet to make this truly private, I'll start slow. But what I think, if I remember correctly - is that this is where the two stories begin to intertwine:

My phone is ringing.

I wish it weren't, because I have a thousand things to do today, and talking to one of the 4 people who actually have my cell phone number is not on the list. My father is in the hospital, my brother is at work, my grandma is in a constant state of worry. Besides, this thing's like a "batphone." The only reasons this thing should ring is if someone's dead, or the Joker's set off a laughing gas bomb at the nearest Starbucks.

But still, I pick it up.

It's a private number.

And because I am who I am, I have to know. So I pick it up.

It is him.

I call him the professor - because really, that is the only way I know him. He works with college kids - economics, or business management, or some other snoozefest of a class. I've been avoiding his call for days. I said I would help him - but now am regretting it.

"Hello?"

"Hey. How come you always say I can call, but then you never answer the phone?"

"How come you can't take a hint?"

Yes. Those were my first real words to him.

But he laughs and says, "Whoa - you actually have a personality."

"Well, I'm afraid you don't and that's what concerns me." I'm not kidding, but he laughs anyway.

We talk for a while - about the classes he teaches, the classes I teach. Turns out, he does indeed have a personality, and he is as passionate about his job, as I am about mine.

It is unfortunate that at this very point in time, my request for marriage counseling has been denied three times. It is unfortunate, that things are how they are in my house, it is unfortunate, that when I mention this call to my husband, he goes back to his video game. He thinks nothing of it.

At the moment - neither do I.

We are both so wrong.