My Love and Life by: Elaine Nagal, Gouache, 2018
“I just don’t know.” Ariana sighed into the phone for what seemed like the hundredth time in the last twenty minutes. I love her, but her ramblings always lasted hours and we were only twenty minutes in. I didn’t have the heart to tell her I was trying to do homework, but how hard could a 10-page essay be that’s due in four hours? Then again, I was taking a break anyway.
“I mean, he’s cute. Like…so cute! And his voice…ugh, his voice.” I could imagine little hearts in her eyes as she continued on rambling every single detail of Larry’s body – which was way too much information – and instead of interrupting her, I put the phone on speaker and set it down on the kitchen counter. I shook my head as she started talking about parts of him I wished I never visualized, then started to stir the leftover soup before throwing it in the microwave a little too forcefully.
“Why did he have to cheat? Am I not good enough?” The whining began, and I silently cursed under my breath as the soup spilled over the edge of the bowl and splattered in the microwave.
“You already know what I’m going to say, Ari.” I grabbed the paper towels and ripped one off, accidentally pulling off little pieces before I decided that it was necessary to use my other hand to get a full square.
“Yeah, yeah,” Ariana sighed dramatically, “Leave him, I’ll find someone else, I’ll fall in love again, yada yada yada.” I could sense the disappointment in her voice as I lifted the bowl in the microwave and started to clean underneath. I quickly set it back down, slammed it closed, then hit the start button.
“I am beginning to feel like I am wasting my breath, here.” I turned on my heels and opened the fridge. Grabbing the gallon of milk. I whisked back around and practically threw it down on the counter before making my way over to the counter for a mug.
“I’m sorry!” Ariana moaned, “But I love him, Kaia.”
“Sure, you do.” I chose a mug and turned around, then heard a crackle in the microwave before realizing I accidentally left my spoon in there. Cursing under my breath, I took one giant step towards it as I opened the microwave and simultaneously set the mug down in a not-so-gentle manner.
“He’s cheated three times, damnit!” I grabbed the spoon and cursed in several languages as the silverware hopped from one hand to the next until I managed to throw it in the sink. Once I heard the clink of metal hitting metal, I placed my hands on my hips as frustration flowed through me.
“But-”
“I swear to God, Ari-”
“Just hear me out!” She whined again, making me roll my eyes and once again slam the microwave closed before hitting the start button. As she ranted about Larry’s good looks, “great personality,” and how he just “isn’t ready yet,” she suddenly stopped abruptly just as the microwaved dinged.
“Oh, he’s calling!”
“Ariana, don’t you dare.” I grabbed the phone as if my mouth getting closer to the speaker was going to do any good, “He’s not-“
Suddenly, I could see my home screen instead of Ariana’s usual contact picture.
I sighed.
“Worth it.” I finished, dropping the phone on the counter as it instantly slid off and hit the tile underneath.
“God damnit.”