Dissapearance

“Hi, this is Erica. I’m not here right now, obviously, but feel free to leave me a message, and I’ll get back to you as soon as i can! Bye!”

You have fourteen new messages

Monday, 3:45 PM “Hey girl, it’s Chrissy. So, you know that hottie at the Heat last saturday night, the one who bought us drinks? Well, I have some big news for you! I know you’re working right now, but when you get off call me right back, okay? Love ya!”

Monday, 7:38 PM: “Erica, this is Janice. You never showed up for work today, and the little ones missed you. You know that the policy at Kindercare is to call in sick when necessary, and your going AWOL today is completely unacceptable. Call me back immediately.”

Monday, 10:17 PM: “Erica, it’s James. Baby, I’m sorry about what happened this morning. I was completely out of line, I know. And when I came home to find you and your suitcase gone, I realized that I was in the wrong. Just come home, babe. I promise, It’ll never happen again. I love you.”

Tuesday, 12:42 PM: “Erica, this is your mother. I feel the need to remind you that your great-aunt Helga is turning eighty this weekend, and since you skipped the last two family reunions, we’d like you to attend her party at noon this Sunday. Bring a gift, too. She’s registered at Crate and Barrel and Yankee Candle.”

Tuesday, 2:34 PM: “Hi Erica! It’s Diane. Yeah, you got that message from mom about great-aunt Helga’s birthday? Well, I have this huge trial on monday and there’s no way I can make it. I have like, no time to buy a gift either, so can you pretty please put my name on the present you bought her? I promise, i’ll pay you back. Get her a candle or something. Seriously, who registers for a birthday gift? Well, I gotta go, talk to you later.”

Tuesday, 3:54 PM: “It’s James again. Okay Erica, you made your point. I said I was sorry, what more do you want? I think two days of running away is more than enough. Are you hiding away at Chrissy’s? You better not be. Okay seriously Erica, I was willing to apologize and all that shit yesterday, but now I’m pretty pissed. You come home right now, or there’s gonna be trouble.”

Tuesday, 5:22 PM: “Girly, it’s Chrissy. James just called me and asked if you were over here, what’s going on? Seriously, I’ve called you like thirty times since yesterday, and you haven’t picked up once. I know your phones on ‘cause it rings and then goes to voicemail. Why are you ignoring me? What’d I do?”

Tuesday, 7:30 PM: “Erica, this is Janice again. This is the second time you’ve gone absent without leave. I’m very sorry, but if this happens one more time, you will lose your job. Goodbye.”

Tuesday, 8:21 PM: “Hey sis, it’s Diane again. Erica, I’ve gotten calls from Chrissy, your boss, and that...boyfriend of yours, and they have no idea where the hell you are. You know that if you’re in trouble you can always talk to me right? I love you, bye.”

Tuesday, 9:57 PM: “Alright bitch, why the fuck are you ignoring me? Do you want a repeat of Monday morning? ‘Cause I can supply that if you don’t get your ass back here now. You left your email wide open on your laptop, I can MobileMe you. I’ll give you two hours to come back, and if you don’t, I’m tracking you down and coming after you. And I can promise, sweetheart, it won’t be pretty.”

Tuesday, 11:57 PM: “I warned you.”

Wednesday, 8:38 AM: “Erica, it-it’s Chrissy. I just saw the news, and...Oh my God. You’re okay, right? They said the wounds weren’t fatal, but I hope you’re not all disfigured and weird. But, oh my God! You, and James, and-I never would have thought, just...oh my God.”

Wednesday, 10:12 AM: “Erica, it’s Diane. I know you’re in the hospital right now and you can’t see your phone. I would come visit you, but this trial is so important, and yeah. We all saw the piece on the news, and mom’s going into cardiac arrest, she’s freaking. I, uh, I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I should have known there was something wrong with James, I should have tried harder to look for you. And I’m really sorry I can’t see you today, really I am. I’ll try to squeeze in a visit tomorrow, okay? Love you, little sis.”

Wednesday, 11:01 AM: “It’s Janice again. Erica, I’m so sorry you were a victim of this tragedy. I’m happy to hear that you are alive and that horrible young man is locked up where he belongs, and I’m sorry I’ve been pestering you these last couple of days. You take as much time off as you need to recuperate. You’re in our prayers.”