A HEAVY HEART

The phone in Alex's hand felt heavier than it had ever been before. He sat in the living room, the silence of the house pressing down on him like a thick blanket. It was late, far too late to be making this call, but the turmoil inside him couldn’t wait any longer. He needed to talk to someone, someone who had been there for him through every bad decision, every heartbreak. He needed to talk to his mother.

With a deep breath, he pressed her contact on his phone. The ringing seemed to stretch on forever, each second amplifying the doubts swirling in his mind. When she finally answered, her voice was warm, even though it was tinged with the grogginess of having just woken up.

“Alex? Is everything okay? It’s really late,” she said, her concern evident.

“Mom, I... I’m sorry for calling so late. I just needed to talk,” Alex replied, his voice shaky, betraying the emotions he was trying to keep in check.

“What’s wrong, honey? You sound upset,” his mom said, her voice softening, maternal ins