25

It was the next day and true to his word, my father was nowhere to be found. I quickly went back to my room after breakfast after feeling the hostile environment of the people at the table. Milan followed behind me and went inside the room with me. As I was sitting on the bed, Milan handed me an old phone. It was one of those Nokias that would break the floor if you drop them.

"What's this for?" I asked Milan.

"Arturo," he simply said.

I looked back on the screen and found Arturo's name in an ongoing call. I quickly brought the phone up to my ear. My heart is beating rapidly in my chest. It felt like it would break at any minute.

"Hey, Avery," Arturo's voice said through the call.

Tears started to flow uncontrollably out of my eyes.

"Arturo," I cried out.

"Hey, baby," he chuckled.

Arturo tried calming me through the phone as I cried. I can't believe that I'm hearing his voice right now. After two months, I finally get to talk to him again.

"I'm so happy to hear your voice again, Ave