Chapter 7 - She Hadn't Stopped Me From Calling
That part of the original story I built in my head was wrong.
I assumed Avalon had blocked calls.
Intercepted messages.
Created distance.
Some of that happened later.
But the first distance was real.
Randall had called me.
I often let it ring.
Why?
Because I hated answering from my tiny apartment.
The deli vent rattled.
The heater clanged.
Once Randall heard the couple next door fighting through the wall.
“Where are you?”
“Home.”
“That doesn't sound like the new place Avalon mentioned.”
I changed the subject.
After that I started calling him from outside.
Church parking lot.
Library.
Park.
I helped maintain the illusion.
Avalon did too.
Then she began strengthening it.
If Randall asked whether Mom needed anything:
“She says she's good.”
If I asked why Randall didn't call:
“He's buried in work.”
Both statements frequently true.
Then gradually useful.
That is how manipulation often works.
May you like
It doesn't replace reality.
It edits it.
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