The Midnight Call

It was midnight when Carolyn’s phone rang, waking her up after only going to bed two hours ago. Darrell didn’t notice it. He didn’t notice much most days. He drank almost every night before going to bed. Carolyn didn’t understand how he could still drink. Ever since the crash, she hadn’t taken a sip of achohol. She didn’t want to lose another child. Darrell, on the other hand, drank even more than he did prior. He still blamed himself for killing Rachel on that horrible night fifteen years ago. They both blamed themselves.

She sat up in her bed and looked over at her phone, which was vibrating her nightstand. She sighed. The day had been so stressful she had forgot to turn her phone off before bed. She reached over and grabbed her phone. She turned on the screen and checked who was calling her. When she saw the name, she almost dropped her phone. One word was showing. One name. A name that shouldn’t have been able to call her. Rachel.

Shocked, she turned to Darrell and grabbed him. “Darrell! Wake up!”

He stirred a little, then shook his head. “What is it?”

“Come on. Get up!” She said, shaking his arm.

Darrell jerked his head up and glared at Carolyn. “What’s so important that’s happening in the middle of the night?”

Carolyn lifted her phone to his face. “Look.”

“What-” he started, then froze, staring at the screen.

She turned the phone back to her and answered, setting it to speaker mode. “Hello? Who is this?”

The line was silent for a moment. “Mom? Dad?”