The Big Fish by Madison Henley (best free e reader .TXT) 📕

her forehead with the back of her hand. Her jaws were locked, brows wrinkled, and fists clenched into a ball as she punched the bag again and continued to punch, throwing jarring blows every time she thought about her father. Her black sports bra clung to her wet skin; beads of sweat formed in the crease of her breasts and dripped down the spine of her back. The room was ceased in silence, the exception of the perpetual sound of Georgia’s knuckles panning into the thick leather. The internal monologue that played in Georgia’s head was too much to bear. She would punch harder, faster, trying to drown out the loud thoughts. Georgia had trapped herself down in her garage and swore not to come out until she felt she could handle the world again. She was rolling up on the third hour. Her body ached; she had overworked herself, trying to tire her brain when it only became stronger and she got weaker. Georgia reluctantly threw off her gloves and shook out her cramped, bruised knuckles. Throwing a towel over her shoulder, she pushed open the door to her house, the cold breeze trapping every heated piece of skin. Georgia made way to the refrigerator and chugged down half of her water bottle before slamming it down on the kitchen counter and angrily wiping her lips with the back of her hand. She gripped both sides of the counter and blew out a shaky breath. Georgia was a lot of things; a crier was not one of them. There was too much time for pontification. There was too much time for anger, regret, and loneliness and Georgia’s arms were sore. At school, she was sheathed in steel. She could go on about her day pushing the daunting thoughts in the back of her head. It was here at home where the loneliness crept in. It had been a two weeks since Georgia buried her father, two weeks since Georgia had died herself. Georgia gazed around her empty home when she finally realized just how lonely she was. There was not a single living soul Georgia could think of that was there for her. Had she always been this lonely?

Keliah.

It was Keliah who had distracted Georgia’s solitude life in recent years. Keliah made Georgia forget what it was like to be alone. Keliah had always been in Georgia’s corner. A humorless laugh tugged in Georgia’s throat. Was Keliah all she had? Was Keliah all she needed? Georgia ran upstairs, searching for her phone. It had been dead, all two weeks long, hiding in the bottom of Georgia’s drawer. Once charged, Georgia unsnapped her phone from its plug and fished the birthday card Keliah had given her out of her nightstand drawer. Keliah had written her number on it. Georgia began to punch in the digits of Keliah’s cell when she realized the unread note hiding inside of the card. Georgia placed her phone down and opened the card, sat down on her bed and began to read.

You’re my coffee. I want to be your tea.

Georgia felt her heart swell just before it melted. She excitedly punched in Keliah’s numbers and tapped out a quick text before realizing that Keliah was probably in Georgia by now. After all, it was the week of Christmas. Georgia hit dial and her patience level increased with every ring.

“Cello?”

Keliah giggled into the phone. Georgia could hear laughter in the background and a faint Christmas melody playing.

“Keliah…it’s me.”

The noise level on the other end of the phone was cut off, as Keliah seemed to enter another room of the house.

“Georgia? Um, hey.”

“Is this a bad time?”

“No, no.”

The bewilderment in Keliah’s voice left and was replaced with concern.

“How are you?”

“I’ve had better days.”

Georgia rubbed out her sore hands.

“I wanted to see you before I left, but I wanted to give you your space.”

“I know, I appreciate that but I…I would really like to see you.”

“Are you still in California?”

“Yes, but…”

Georgia looked up to her ceiling fan, preparing her next sentence. She dragged her teeth across her lip and sighed heavily into the phone. Desperate times called for desperate measures. Georgia closed her eyes, wincing at what she was getting ready to say.

“I was planning on going to my lodge in Alberta to spend Christmas…I didn’t necessarily want to go alone.”

The phone was silent on the other end. Georgia waited with bated breath for a response. A response that was prayerfully in Georgia’s favor. When Georgia was positive the line went dead, she called Keliah’s name.

“I’m here, sorry…That’s in Canada you know.”

“I know. And it’s Christmas. You should spend it with your family.”

Georgia rushed. She rolled her eyes, mentally cursing at herself. She should’ve never called.

“Georgia, I didn’t say I didn’t want to come. I just said it was far...I would have to ask my mom.”

Georgia could feel Keliah’s grin through the phone and lips of her own tugged at the corners of her mouth.

“So, do you need to speak with my mom?”

Georgia chuckled and traced the numbers of Keliah’s handwriting on her birthday card. A red hue flushed on her face and her body ignited with elation, torching the anxiety and ineptness.

“No, I’ll type up the permission slip and have it in the mail by tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

Keliah laughed.

There was a state of easiness in the air and Georgia wanted to talk on the phone with Keliah until her throat was dry. The