I received the call 39 years on the day of my birth. I was in ritual. I was looking forward to playing music with one of my dearest friends. I crushed it under paper as my friend removed the guitar from its case. I had been single for 8 months. Out of an 18 year relationship, which was loveless for the last 7 of its years. I was finally over the sickening depression. I felt good but this was not so easily done. I spent many nights in agony. Fighting the urge to text or call. I remember begging her to at the least leave me her friendship, but I never received a reply. I used this for fuel. Running 5 days a week, I obsessed over my health. I even began the tortuous practice of power yoga. I felt like an athlete. At this time in my life I took care of my body during the week, only to poison it at the weeks end.
I finish it up, one by one, plush and straight. I nodded. I watched him zip through. I was about to push in when the phone rang. The number contained overseas prefixes. I smiled. It could only be my mother calling from Cairo, remembering to wish me happy birthday. I answer the phone singing.. Happy birthday to me, happy birth.. I was interrupted by a strange voice speaking Arabic. Repeating my name followed by words i could not understand. He was repetitive as was I. Naima i said? Where is Naima? Naima. Again i heard him repeating the same strange phrases. I felt sick. I ran out the door to the convineint store quarter mile up the road. I begged the clerk to speak for me, please I said I don't understand Arabic. I saw my hands trembling as i handed him the phone. He spoke and after every sentence he looked my way. Finally he said your mother is in a coma. She is very sick. I felt my stomach turn in and then collapse . Her liver and heart is failing he said. I thought of the dream I had two nights prior. She was in agony wanting to spend one last moment with her kids. I felt paralyzed and screaming. I realized it wasn't a dream. Somehow she had reached out to me. Hanging up the phone he said. They will call tomorrow to give you an update. I thanked him and walked home in a daze. I don't remember when my friend left. The next thing i recall was standing in a super market line when the number rang again. I knew she had died. I answered knowing i would not understand, but I needed no translation. I half listened staring into space. The voice distant, my vision blurred and I hung up. Nina Simones if I should loose you came on. I stood there in silent tears. If I should lose you the stars would fall from the sky. I love you mom.
I finish it up, one by one, plush and straight. I nodded. I watched him zip through. I was about to push in when the phone rang. The number contained overseas prefixes. I smiled. It could only be my mother calling from Cairo, remembering to wish me happy birthday. I answer the phone singing.. Happy birthday to me, happy birth.. I was interrupted by a strange voice speaking Arabic. Repeating my name followed by words i could not understand. He was repetitive as was I. Naima i said? Where is Naima? Naima. Again i heard him repeating the same strange phrases. I felt sick. I ran out the door to the convineint store quarter mile up the road. I begged the clerk to speak for me, please I said I don't understand Arabic. I saw my hands trembling as i handed him the phone. He spoke and after every sentence he looked my way. Finally he said your mother is in a coma. She is very sick. I felt my stomach turn in and then collapse . Her liver and heart is failing he said. I thought of the dream I had two nights prior. She was in agony wanting to spend one last moment with her kids. I felt paralyzed and screaming. I realized it wasn't a dream. Somehow she had reached out to me. Hanging up the phone he said. They will call tomorrow to give you an update. I thanked him and walked home in a daze. I don't remember when my friend left. The next thing i recall was standing in a super market line when the number rang again. I knew she had died. I answered knowing i would not understand, but I needed no translation. I half listened staring into space. The voice distant, my vision blurred and I hung up. Nina Simones if I should loose you came on. I stood there in silent tears. If I should lose you the stars would fall from the sky. I love you mom.
