Mercurial

Woke up this morning with the phone ringing. The phone ringing. The phone ringing.
Finally I manage to get out of bed, dreadful Monday, long weekend and even longer week ahead. Grey sky, too much light filtering through the blinds, reminding me that it is late, and I should be at work already.
ID doesn't identify the calling phone, so this is probably from overseas. Urgent call! Must be awake! I stumble on my own dreams (what were those, anyway?) and utter a wary "Hello?" that tries to sound alert, though my mind is still foggy and mired in the surreal universe of dreams and unrealities.

It is the voice of my mother. I can not talk, and the surprise is too much. My mother, calling me! I am alert now, and wondering what did I do this weekend to merit a call from my mother, from whatever Heaven she is now. She is going to tell me to behave, to pay attention to something I did, to focus on future.
And I wait, the voice unmistakably hers. She wavers, though, and then I realize it must be somebody else; my mother wouldn't have doubted in a call.

It is my aunt, her sister, calling to ask about me and how I am doing. Disappointment and relief both show, and I stutter trying to compose coherent sentences about my weekend and work, finally sending regards to all.

But I am in shock still.