SHORT STORY THE CALL
THE CALL
Automatic traslation from the original story in Spanish. Not checked manually
The day Paulina got the job, she hadn’t imagined anything like that.
They had explained to her that it was a helpline for women, but they hadn’t warned her about extreme cases…
“Tell me,” Paulina uses, from her work station, a soft and encouraging tone as she has been taught.
“…….” “On the other end, even though they called her, there is only silence.
“Tell me,” the young woman repeats, longing for an answer.
“Hey…”
“Yes? Who is it? What’s your name?”
“Does that matter?” the girl’s voice is whispery.
“Don’t tell me then… What’s wrong with you?”
“My husband wants to kill me, he’s on the other side of the door.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll send a team right now.”
“There’s no time left.”
“Of course, there is…” Paulina bites her nails. She looks at the location of the call on the computer and sends the notice to the police, with the stipulated code. —They’re coming soon… —she continues.
—I’m telling you there’s no time, the door has almost burst open.
Paulina doesn’t know what to say and trying to keep her voice calm she adds… —Calm down, they’re coming soon…
—What’s your name?
—Paulina…
—I’m Barbara. You know Paulina? I always liked sunrises… and this is the last one…
—Noooop… you’ll see how many there are… —Paulina interrupts her words.
On the other side, screams, blows… silence.
At 7 in the morning Barbara Grey had died. Strangled.
The rescue team arrived too late.
They found her husband dead too. He had hanged himself after killing her.
Daylight was already coming in through the window. New York was waking up.
Paulina, on the other side of Manhattan, can’t even cry when they call her to explain what happened.
Suddenly the morning darkens. A storm floods the streets… the taxis are full. The women wrap themselves up, sure that nothing will happen to them.
The Call – Short stories series – Copyright ©Montserrat Valls and Juan Genovés