The Call I Let Ring Out

I'm boxing up her kitchen at 2am because I can't do it with people around. There's a tupperware in the back of the freezer with masking tape on the lid, her handwriting, just says soup, march. She's been gone since may. I peeled the tape off and kept it. A strip of tape. I don't even know why.

Here's the thing I've told no one. The night before, she called and I was tired and I let it ring out. In the morning I sent a thumbs up like that covered it. I keep telling everyone we talked all the time, which is true. Just not that last night.

Her voicemail is still saved. Forty seconds. She says she's fine, she's just checking in, no need to call back. I've played the first ten a hundred times. I've never gotten to the end. I'm scared there's a part near the end where she asks me to call her back.

I took the tape. I put the soup back in the freezer and closed the door.