One-Sided: Stories Unfolded from the Other End of the Line

No, do not hang up. Put the phone in your pocket, but leave the line open. Can you do that for me? Just nod if you can hear me. Good. Okay. Now just… walk to the kitchen. Normally. Like you’re getting a glass of water. Remember what we practiced. Slow breaths. Nothing is wrong. You live here. You’re just getting a drink of water. Okay. What? No, no, stay there. What do you mean he’s not in his study? The living room? He’s in the living room? Okay. Okay. That’s… fine. That’s fine, Anna. It just means we don’t use the front door. We use the patio plan. Remember? We talked about this. It’s the same, just… backwards. Are you with me? Good. Turn around. Go to the laundry room. The back door. Is the bolt still rusted? Does it still stick? Perfect. That’s actually good for us. He won’t have bothered to fix it.

Now, the key. The spare key for the bolt. Is it there? Under the corner of the linoleum, just like I showed you. Okay. Good girl. You’re doing so well. Now, this is the hard part. You have to turn that key and slide the bolt at the same time. It’s going to make a noise, Anna. It’s going to scrape. When you hear the next big sound from the TV… a car chase, an explosion, anything… that’s when you do it. Be ready. What was that? Anna, what was that noise? It wasn’t the TV. A dog? What dog? He hates dogs. He’s allergic. Anna, there is no dog. Since when? Since Tuesday? A… a big one? Oh god. Okay. Okay, new plan. Forget the back door. Forget it. The dog’s out there. This is… this is just like Montreal, isn’t it? You remember? The pattern is the same. He senses you’re leaving, so he adds a new piece to the board.

A new lock. A new… obstacle. Last time it was your passport, this time it’s a damn dog. No. No, you listen to me. You are not trapped. We are going out the front. I KNOW he’s in the living room. I know. But the dog changes everything. You have to walk past the living room door. You have to do it right now. He’s distracted, you said it yourself. The TV is loud. Just walk. Do not run. Walk like you’re going to bed. Head down. Don’t look in. Please, Anna, don’t look in. Just walk. Go. Now. You’re past it. You’re at the door. You’re in the car? My car? Oh thank god. Lock the doors. LOCK THE DOORS. Now. Okay. The keys are in the sun visor. The address for the hotel is in the glove compartment. It’s under my name. Don’t call me again. Don’t call anyone. Just drive. You did it, Anna. You’re free.