But Elena had been too ashamed to keep answering Marissa’s calls, too embarrassed to let her friends see how far she had fallen.
Eventually, Marissa had stopped calling and Elena had convinced herself it was better that way.
Now staring at Marissa’s name on her phone, Elena felt fear mixing with her determination.
What if Marissa didn’t answer? What if she had moved on and forgotten about Elena completely?
What if she answered but didn’t want to help? Only one way to find out, Elena whispered.
She pressed the call button and held the phone to her ear. It rang once, twice, three times.
Elena was about to hang up when she heard a voice. Hello, it was Marissa.
Her voice sounded older, maybe a little tired, but it was definitely her. Elena’s throat felt tight.
For a moment, she couldn’t speak. Hello, Marissa said again. Is anyone there? Marissa. Elena finally managed to say, “It’s me.
It’s Elena.” There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Elena could hear traffic in the background, voices, the sounds of the city.
Elena. Marissa’s voice changed completely, filling with surprise and emotion. Elena: Oh my god. Is it really you?
I’ve been so worried. I tried calling you so many times, but your number stopped working and I didn’t know where you were and I I’m sorry, Elena interrupted softly.
I’m so sorry I disappeared. I was ashamed and I thought it was easier to just let go of my old life completely.
Where are you? Marissa asked. Are you okay? Are you safe? Elena looked around at the street corner at her blanket at the cardboard box.
Um, I’m not okay, Marissa. But I need your help. I need your help with something really important.
Anything, Marissa said immediately. Tell me what you need and I’ll help you. Where can we meet?
Elena felt tears forming in her eyes, but this time they weren’t tears of sadness.
They were tears of hope. For the first time in 3 years, she felt like maybe, just maybe, things could be different.
There’s a coffee shop on Main Street. Elena said. The one with the blue awning.
Do you know it? I know it. Marissa replied. Can you be there in an hour?
Elena looked down at herself. Her dirty clothes, her tangled hair, her worn out shoes.
She probably looked like someone the coffee shop would ask to leave. But she needed to do this.
She needed to start somewhere. I’ll be there, Elena said. And Marissa, thank you. Thank you for answering.
Always, Marissa said softly. I’ll see you in an hour, Elena, and whatever you need, we’ll figure it out together.
I promise. They hung up, and Elena stood there on the street corner holding her old phone, feeling something she hadn’t felt in so long she had almost forgotten what it was called.
Oh, she had one week to prepare. One week to transform from the homeless woman everyone ignored into someone who could walk into the Grand View estate with her head held high.
It seemed impossible. It probably was impossible, but Elena was going to try anyway. Elena walked slowly toward the coffee shop on Main Street.
With each step, she became more aware of how she looked. Her clothes were clean.
She always made sure to wash them when she could, but they were old and faded.
Her shoes made a soft squeaking sound because the Sauls were coming loose. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, but she hadn’t been able to brush it properly in days.
As she got closer to the coffee shop, she saw her reflection in a store window and almost turned around.
The woman staring back at her looked tired, worn down, nothing like the Elena who used to meet Marissa for coffee and laugh about silly things.
