A Day in the Life of 'The Other Woman'

The phone battery is down to half. So is the day. He is away on a trip. An undisclosed location, out of range. They talked briefly before he left at dawn. The day is dragging. Minutes are like hours. The hours endless. 14 hours till they last talked. He texts that he’s home. She texts back: “Good baby, rest. Relax, have something to eat.” Silence. More minutes pass. The battery goes further down. Put it on charge? No. He’ll call and she may be away from her desk and miss the call. Time to leave for home.  She texts. No response. She won’t play music on it during the long trip home. She doesn’t want the battery to go down further. He might call. An hour passes. She texts. I’m home baby. Alas, he responds. “Good baby. Great. Very tired. Need to sleep now. Have an off tomorrow. Will sleep late.” 14 hours since they last talked. Since she’s heard his voice. Hours of waiting for his return. Wondering where he is? If everything is ok? If he’s safe? Has he had something to eat?

3 hours of waiting for him to rest and refresh enough to call. Even if just to say goodbye. 16 hours of waiting and a text.

She puts the phone on charge.