RA'S

ait for it to stop completely before

o?" The c

he curb and heads towards home. Although in my

farthest away from here, I scroll through my contacts and lan

learly, I wait as the phone rings and

e too many holidays alone with no family over the y

knows they are already busy, like they should be, with family and closer

e of them after all these years. When the phone rings a th

vacation before my next assignment. Hence the vacation I was supposed to ta

ace and know his shocked expression will neve

ept Florida. Rumor has it that is where my next assignment takes me, and hell if I can't w

ms take me far away when I look out the window of

email, she finally picks up and I notice I let o

a! Is t

" I say, as the time its been since I've seen her sets in and the sound of

eau needed to keep eyes on her ex, it was hard not to break

o make on a job. But when you live your life one fake identity

you can't help but walk alone through, especiall

lie says too eagerly, and I begin to se

Jack, Hailey and Laura. God girl

ble. Depressed. Possibly suicidal. No, never that last one. But d

etter,"

sks, concern lacing her voice a

Can't a girl just call an old fr

me on my bullshit and making me remember why I knew I couldn

t to break anytime soon to let her know the truth to my call. Her? I'm not so sure, but then she bl

to Ke

that my master plan seems to be mysteriously worki

to our rental. He isn't using it, and we had fewe

y," I lie as her grunts of distrust a

Key West?" I laugh, even though this is exactly

perfect, seeing my next jo

ound. She argues with whatever he said in a way only a teasing wife could, before I hear slight laughter an

em, even more than I thought I did. Silently, I sit as th

The one reason why maybe I did vanish without a tra

he holiday. What more could you ask for?" Julie laughs

behind at the restaurant. My eyes close as my mind wanders and I think about h

xt two weeks worse than I have any other year

er should have hesitated on to begin with. Especially si

diately met with a loud excited

nd tears prick the backs of my eyes know

u what flight I book. Oh, and Julie! Tell your