Chapter 14 - MAYA’S ANGER AT MEMaya finally became angry on day eight.
Real anger.
Good.
“You stopped calling.”
I knew what she meant.
During month seven of deployment, our calls went from daily to every third day.
“Because every call became a fight.”
“Why?”
“Because you wouldn’t explain the transfers.”
“Because Victoria was standing in the kitchen half the time.”
I froze.
“What?”
“She listened.”
I thought Maya was paranoid when she once whispered:
I can’t talk here.
I had replied:
Then go outside.
She did.
Julian followed.
Another time her phone “lost service.”
Actually, Victoria took it.
“Why didn’t you tell me directly?”
“I tried.”
She opened her old phone.
Draft emails.
Never sent.
Daniel, your family is trying to make me sign—
Another:
I’m scared Julian will—
Another:
Please call when you’re alone, not when your mother—
All unsent.
Why?
She had convinced herself my military email might be monitored through family administrative forwarding.
Not true.
But fear made her cautious.
Then:
“I called you once from the grocery store.”
I remembered.
Bad connection.
Maya crying.
She said:
“Something is wrong here.”
I said:
“I cannot deal with another family argument from six thousand miles away.”
She hung up.
May you like
I had forgotten.
She had not.
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