Rayne

“Hi, there. Ocean said you’re going volunteering somewhere. Woul- Would it be strange if I said I wanna go too?” Alliyah spoke fast yet stuttered at the same time.

“Yes, you have the wrong number.” Rayne held the phone between her ear and shoulder as she painted her nails black.

“I have your number saved. You’re the one who first sought after my number anyway, darling.”

“I’m gonna go. Thanks for the advice.” Blue got up from her couch with a smile and exited her house.

“Was that- Who’s there?” Alliyah demanded.

“The lad with the freckles just left.”

“What was he doing there?!” She yelled, then recomposed herself. “Not that that’s any of my business…”

“You are right, it is not.” She replied. “He just wanted advice.”

“Why didn’t he come up to me?” She sounded disheartened.

“I do not know and do not care.”

Rayne bit her lip as silence settled on the line. Alliyah cleared her throat:

“So, volunteering.”

“Fine, yes, I am going, and if you are interested too, I…” She sighed. “I suppose that the more the merrier, like you, Americans, say.”

“Glad we’re on the same page. Have you chosen a country?”

“Nope.”

“What about a cause?”

“I would prefer something to do with animals. Last year I went to Namibia to help decrease the tension between elephants and the locals.” She sat back on the armchair as her left hand dried off the varnish. “There is not much water there and, well, they both need it. We built water points away from the farms and stuff so they will not invade the human’s spaces.”

“Sounds nice! Would you do it again this year?

Rayne shrugged:

“Sure. It was a remarkable experience to look at elephants so up close and being able to help them… And the people, of course. The only problem for me was wearing black clothes in the desert.“

“Then we’ll do it?”

“Sure.”

“When are you leaving?”

“Whenever you can. I already quit my job.”

“You did what, now?”

“You heard me.” Her voice was low. She always spoke low and softly, even when she was alone with her cats in the house.

“Did you… Get another one?”

“Nope.”

“So, not to sound weird or anything but… How do you plan on living without a job…?”

Rayne sighed and sat up straight, grabbing the phone from under her ear.

“I’ll tell you, but you have to promise to stop the questions.”

“Okay, I’ll spiritually pinky promise you.”

Rayne was glad it was a phone conversation because she couldn’t help but smile. She cleared her throat, as she considered how to word her thoughts.

“My parents are… Filthy rich, you know?” She paused and heard Aliyah slowly let out a sound in agreement. “I cut connections with them after a few things were said and done - which I am not getting into, right now. - hence I moved to New York. But the thing is I… receive money from them every month. I don’t talk to them, I don’t pick up their calls, but they still send it.” She shrugged.

“That explains it.”

“Yes, I do not need to work. It just… Makes me feel useful.”

“No, I meant that explains why you drop money on the floor and pretend it’s not yours. You give it to people on purpose. You know, there are charities you can donate to instead.”

“I do not know what you are talking about. Although I do donate, anyway.”

“You think I’d forget your flawless face? I know that I knew you before Ocean.”

Rayne smiled briefly before getting back to the conversation:

“Okay, so just do not tell anything to anyone. They probably will not ask but…”

“I’m offended you think I might break a spiritual pinky promise.“

Rayne smiled again and shook her head:

“Anything else you want to ask? I’m a little busy.”

“Aww, and you picked up the phone, anyway. What a cutie.”

Rayne hanged up the phone, blushing more than she’d like to admit.

“Why, just why?” She said lowly. One of the black cats slowly blinked at her from the blanket she was lying on.

“Dr. Skylar.” Rayne greeted as she entered the therapist’s office.

“Hello, Rayne. How are you? It’s been a while since we’ve last spoken.”

“Splendid. You?” She deadpanned.

“I’ve been better.” They both chuckled, but the therapist took a deep breath before continuing, with an emotionless tone, now. “Have you been having nightmares?”

“Occasionally. You know, some nights, you are so used to them, you see them as regular dreams. They just become less scary.” She shrugged as she took a bagel from inside of a brown paper bag.

“And do you still talk to that man you were talking to, at the time of our last session?”

“Yes, surprisingly. And his group seems accepting of me. I think we’re all… Friends.”

“And do you bond over the fact that you’re both transgender like you had hoped?”

“Not really. I know that was why I started talking to him in the first place, but it is not really brought up in our daily conversations anymore. It was still nice to have talked to him about it at that time.”

“As I’ve been telling you, a little courage to walk up to people and start talking to them may be rough to gather at first, but it is rewarding when you make friendships.”

Dr. Skylar smiled, looking from above their glasses, a smug glimmer in their eyes and smile.

“There is something I want to talk about.” Rayne took a deep breath, fidgeting with a ring on her index finger. “A… Friend and I are going volunteering abroad. I am, you know, a little nervous about that. I don’t know why. I’ve never hesitated to go on other years.”

“You hesitated saying ‘A friend’” Dr. Skylar used their fingers as quotes. “You seem nervous to go with this person, not to go in general.”

Rayne was annoyed, yet impressed that the doctor said what she didn’t want to hear.

“Well, it was nice to see you before I went abroad.” Rayne threw the bagel back in the bag, got up, and started walking out.

“You paid for an hour!” Dr. Skylar checked their watch. “It’s been ten minutes!”

“We both know it is just my parents’ money, see the rest of the time as a nice little tip. I will call you from there, don’t worry.” She gave the doctor a courteous smile, before closing the door behind her.