XO, Bones

"Hello?"

"Hi, Megan?"

"Yes?"

"It's The Devil"

Dead silence, heart beating.

"Hi."

"How are you?"

"I'm sorry, I don't really see why you are calling me."

She called to say she was sober. That she had gone through a lot since the last time we had seen each other. She hit rock bottom, got arrested, went to jail, and then realized what a shit her life was. She put herself through a 30-day rehab program and when she got out, immediately joined a sober living progam and she's been doing that for the past two months and is still in it. She wanted to apologize, say she was sorry for ruining our unique and amazing friendship. That's when my tears began to fall.

"I am amazing now," she told me "My life today is better than it ever was."

She told me about what she was doing when I still knew her and that she couldn't regret it anymore, because that's what they taught her in rehab. She thanked God for giving her a second chance, for giving her this new life. She was counting her blessings. She cried about the things she missed (her sisters graduation) and about the fact that she had fucked up our friendship. But she still preached to me, and that was one thing I always hated. I began to get annoyed.

Why is she calling me?

"I knew my sobriety wouldn't be complete until I talked to you. I am so glad to hear your voice."

The apology was over and I was never going to get what I wanted, the apology I wanted. She asked what I was doing now. I sat up straight, smiled and told her where I am in my life. It felt good to tell her that as much as she took from me, my dreams, she could never take. She was amazed, truly blown away. She thought I was still back in California. She tried to once again interfere with my other friendships, but that satisfaction I cannot give her anymore.

She repeated herself many times, bragging about her life now. I guess it's unfair to say she's bragging, since it is a good thing. But she was. I wanted to get off the phone. I began to sound less interested and slightly distracted, which I was. She got the clue.

"Alright, well I am about to walk into a meeting. Let's get coffee sometime when you're back in town. I want you to see my life now."

"I know, I want to see it too." I lied.

We hung up.

When the Devil comes knocking at your door, you obviously don't answer. But what if the Devil wasn't named "The Devil"?