Vanessa was having a very bad day at her day job.
She was a masseuse. An excellent one, at that, but again, her big-dick of a boss had to fire her because she was old and not a man.
Apparently, all the rich girls like to get touched and waxed by little baby-faced, bodybuilding, handsome boys these days.
To make matters worse? She had nothing in her savings account, no other jobs she could qualify for, and two children living under her roof.
How could life still treat her like that?
Hadn't she had enough, secretly hating her job? Did she have to get fired too?
Oh, to be old and penniless. What a nice biography.
Vanessa didn't feel lost as much as she felt drained. She found herself on a bench at the bus stop, just people-watching.
It made her feel small, alone, and insignificant.
Suddenly, her phone rang. It was Rebecca, under the placename "Rebbs Trouble ❤." She had saved it that way since she was twenty-one.
Vanessa didn't feel like talking but accepted the call nonetheless.
"She's not dead yet."
Rebecca laughed softly. Vanessa missed that familiar, warm, easy laugh of hers.
"I have no doubt" Rebecca said softly.
It was a mystery how much things had changed and yet remained the same at the same damn time.
This was Rebecca.
The woman who left her big, science-y career for a strange handsome widow.
This was the feminist activist who fought for equal opportunities and pay. The same one Vanessa grew up with.
The same woman who fought for a choice in jerseys for their school's girls' football team. (They were just too ridiculously short and see-through)
And now she was a housewife, soft-spoken and needing her help… Life could be crazy sometimes.
Rebecca lowered her voice a couple of notches. "I wanted to see how you were doing. You didn't sound great yesterday."
Vanessa resisted the urge to whimper. Mostly because she was in public, and second? She didn't know how to.
"Nessa?… Hello?… Can you hear me?" Rebecca called.
"I just got fired, Rebbs," Vanessa said in a small voice, and she could practically hear Rebecca's heart breaking for her.
"I'm so sorry, love," Rebecca sympathized. "What happened?"
Vanessa shrugged, strangely feeling light enough to joke about it. "I'm an old woman now. Unable to knead and make little girls scream in pain anymore."
"You're only forty-one!" Rebecca insisted, getting upset for her, as usual. "And in perfect health condition. You have the license, skills, and experience… You know what? I'm suing your boss. Give me his name and address."
Vanessa laughed tiredly. "Don't. She's going to make you hate women in power entirely."
Rebecca didn't laugh. She just assumed that her boss was a man because, that's what they do but, to get fired by a woman because of something like that? It was heartbreaking.
"It's truly heartbreaking to see a fellow woman let you down like that."
Vanessa nodded in agreement. "It doesn't feel great, that's for sure."
"Oh, before I forget," Rebecca added, "I called to tell you that I've transferred some money into your bank account. Just my luck that you didn't change it."
"Rebbs…" Vanessa started to protest but was interrupted by a frantic Rebecca.
"I know, but I'm her mother, and I'll feel useless if I don't at least do this to lessen your burden, and my guilt," Rebecca pleaded.
Vanessa sighed in agreement.
Rebecca continued, her voice hopeful, "How is she though? Did she eat last night? Sleep? Did she sleep well? Was she comfortable…?"
Vanessa smiled at her worried tone. She was truly a mother hen.
"Stop that, will you? You can ask her yourself… She's at home, probably with my unofficial adopted child, Ethan."
If Rebecca was surprised or fearful for her child's safety, she didn't show it.
Part of it was because she knew and trusted Vanessa with her life, and if Vanessa deemed someone harmless, then that person was harmless.
"I can connect you to him now," Vanessa suggested helpfully.
"No. No. NO! Please don't," Rebecca refused quickly.
Vanessa paused, confused. "Okay…"
"I… she's a… she just worries too much," Rebecca explained in a rush.
Vanessa scoffed. "You're just scared you're going to have to lie if she asks how you guys are."
Rebecca stayed silent.
And that said everything.
"Are you okay, Rebbs? Should I be worried about your safety?" Vanessa asked, growing concerned.
"No!" Rebecca replied, adamant. "Just please look out for her… She's a very good kid, you know?"
"I get the gist, don't worry, but what about the others?" Vanessa wasn't book-smart, but she knew that house wasn't safe.
She continued when Rebecca didn't reply, "I heard you have twins now."
Rebecca laughed affectionately. "Yeah… my little messes, Edna and Egbert. You should come see them someday."
"Are they still with you?" Vanessa asked softly.
Rebecca sighed sadly. "Yeah, I… I'm at my parents' house now."
"Wow, you still live with your parents at thirty-seven? With your kids?" Vanessa joked. "Not a good look on your résumé."
Rebecca laughed at that. "Oh, you can come work at my parents' farm. They need the help anyway. I'm just a leech out here. Can't even milk the cows"
Vanessa shook her head slightly. "I'm not done with the city life yet. But I'll definitely come back when hell freezes."
Rebecca didn't laugh. She knew why Vanessa hated returning.
She hesitated for a moment. "I'm sorry about before. I'm sorry I went radio silent on you."
Vanessa knew exactly when, how, and why, but it still gutted her to this day.
"I get it. I was the asshole who opposed you marrying the love of your life," Vanessa said casually. "I mean, I probably would have done the same: Quit my job, block my best friend, and move to another city far from my friends and family."
"He's not… He's not the love of my life," Rebecca corrected cautiously, as if saying it aloud would break some kind of spell.
"There's no way we could have known that for sure before," Vanessa said with a shrug.
"I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not," Rebecca admitted, confused.
"Me neither," Vanessa replied dryly.
"I miss you, Nessa," Rebecca said, just as someone called her name from the other end.
"That's Mom. It's probably nothing, but I just need to make sure," Rebecca explained.
"Later then… And Rebbs?" Vanessa called.
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad you're back in my life again."
"Sisters forever…" Rebecca said, remembering their pact.
"Ride or die, together," Vanessa finished before ending the call.