Ticket to Courage

My cell phone ringing was the last sound I expected to hear. I was lying on a secluded beach with soft, golden sand sifting through my toes. Palm trees swayed in a liberating breeze, ripe coconuts weighed down isolated branches, and the ocean stretched far beyond the impression that my sight could give me. I didn’t even know why I had brought it to that place. My escape had been an attempt to leave the neurosis of a bustling city life behind me. It was a success as well, until my phone rang.1

There it went again. Somewhere inside, a little voice told me to answer it. I had left it on for emergencies, right? Nevertheless, the other part of me longed for the hushed tranquility that was bound to return when the caller hung up. They couldn’t be too persistent. No one even knew whether or not I was alive, never mind where I was. I thought I’d leave everyone wondering for a while longer.2

It rang a third time. By this point I had begun to ignore it. The shrill tone blended in with the surf, crashing against the weathered rocks that lined the western beach of the island. I drew my knees up to my chin, keeping my feet just out of the desirous liquid grip. Reaching for a coconut beside me, I cracked it in half, savouring every drop of the tangy milk.3

A fourth ring jarred my thoughts once again. I glanced to the west where the warm sun was setting over my sailboat, tied to a particularly large rock. The sky was a deep shade of violet and the tiny stars were just becoming visible. My crimson shadow stretched far behind me into the shelter of a shady grove.4

A fifth ring marked my last chance to find out who was on the other end of the phone. I tentatively took the small, silver device out of the back pocket of my Capri pants. The metal was warm against my sweaty hands and I nearly dropped it as I flipped it open. I took a deep breath, and raised it up to my ear.5

“Hello?” I sounded much more confident than I felt. My insides were a jumble and I struggled to keep breathing normally.6

“You don’t have to do this, Callie.” The voice belonged to a young man. Husky and provocative, it seemed to lure me.7

“Don’t have to do what?” I was pretty sure I knew what he was referring to, but I wasn’t about to let him win before I even knew his name.8

“You don’t have to run anymore. There’s nothing to hide from.” If I could keep him talking, maybe I could place the voice. It became more and more familiar.9

“You don’t need to hide from me either. I know you’re still there, Callie.” I couldn’t take it. How did he know anything?10

“Who are you?” It came out as more of a demand than a question. I knitted my eyebrows in irritation.11

“Somewhere inside of you, you already know the answer.”12

“You sure know how to push my buttons, Josh.” No one else could aggravate me so quickly. It was only a guess, but anyone with the nerve to call me should have been able to handle an incorrect one. The sigh of relief from the other end assured me that I was right.13

“What do you want, Josh?” I could only hope that he would actually tell me.14

“I want you to come back to work.” My heart paused mid-beat. Beads of sweat dripped down the nape of my neck, yet I was shivering. He made the request seem like such a natural thing to say, but it wasn’t.15

“I miss you, Callie. I wish that you wouldn’t hide anymore.”16

“Yeah right.” I was literally shaking. If I wasn’t going to be sarcastic, no sound would have passed through my lips at all.17

“Mr. Brodsky says you can keep your position if you come back.” A wave of heat passed through my body and was expelled through my rapid breaths. My stomach twisted and my head felt light. Someone could have called it a moment of pleasure, but for me, it was nothing short of torture.18

“We all know what happened. Are you alright, Callie?”19

“What do you think?” The tide splashed against my toes, distracting me from my helpless frustration. I could never go back.20

“Please come home with me.” My eyes were damp with fear. How could I face my boss, or anyone else again? My spine tingled, and I instinctively glanced behind me. My hair tickled me as it slid over my shoulder. I gently shut off my phone and stood up in the fading light. Nothing was left to stop the tears from pouring down my flushed cheeks.21

“Don’t touch me. Please,” I whispered. Josh took a step toward me as he pocketed his own cell phone. My step backwards into the chilly ocean waters was nearly in sync. How could he expect me to just let him get anywhere near me?22

“You don’t need to be afraid of me. You can trust me, Callie. I’m just here to listen.”23

“He raped me.” I barely made a sound, but Josh understood. I never figured out how he knew where to find me, but it didn’t matter. He was there to catch me around the waist when all I could do was sink to the sands below.24

“I believe you. You don’t have to go back to work if you don’t want to.” It was all I needed to hear for my heart to start pumping blood through my veins again. I took a deep breath and gathered the strength to look him straight in the eyes. They shone affectionately, reflecting the serene ripples of the ocean.25

“Then take me home.” I didn’t have to ask twice.26