suffocate in there. Sliding the key into the ignition, Emily
started the car and leaned back in her seat, letting the fan blow
the cold air all over her clammy skin. The call transferred to
the car speakers.
“Emily? Are you still there?”
“Yes. Sorry. I was just getting into the car when you called.
I had to turn it on. It’s so hot.”
“Yes, well, I was saying that we want you to come home.”
Emily winced at her mom’s harsh tone. She could have said
something loving. Asked how Emily was. Asked where she
was. Asked if she was okay. She didn’t do any of that. “Is law
school off the table?” She had to remind herself it had only
been a few days since she’d left. It felt like it had been so
much longer. She didn’t even feel like the same person any
longer.
“No, law school is not off the table.”
Emily looked at her reflection in the rear-view mirror. Her
cheeks were flushed from walking across campus to get to
student parking. It was so hot out that she’d nearly wilted. A
few strands of hair were clinging damply to her forehead and
beads of sweat shimmered there.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly, not trying to start an argument,
all the while knowing it was inevitable. “I’m not coming back
if you’re not willing to listen to what I really want.”
“We can talk about this,” Sandra said, changing her strategy.
Or maybe that was all part of it. She already had what she
wanted to say all planned out. “That photo and all those stories
don’t matter. Your dad and I will support you no matter what.
His PR team has already said it would be best if you came
home and were living with us right now. It’s a vulnerable time.