#this is done.

Ok, we’re not talking about this anymore.

Jordan paced back and forth, letting out a sigh. She paused to look at the photos that lined her desk. Moving back to sit on her chair, she pulled one forward. Her fingers gently touched the glass, the smiling faces of herself and her niece staring back up at her. Jordan could remember the exact date that picture was taken. It was the day before she’d moved out to work at the asylum. Her niece insisted on one last picture if Jordan was to move out for the time being, until her brother relocated them. She hadn’t had the heart to tell her no, so she agreed. The photo ended up being one she cherished, and took care of the most. Letting out another sigh, a small smile grew on the doctor’s face as she reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone. She dialed the all-too familiar number, a number she’d been neglecting to call as often as she had promised to. She pressed the device to her ear, waiting. Tapping her phone almost impatiently against the floor, her smile grew as she heard someone pick up and the voice she’d missed hearing every night. “Aunt Jordan!” her niece exclaims excitedly.  The smile grows into a grin, and Jordan’s positive it stretches from one of her ears to the other. “Hi baby.” she says softly, setting the picture back down. “What are you up to?” she asks. “Nothing…Dad and I just got home from the store.” her niece responds in a soft voice. There’s a silent pause, before her niece speaks up again in a quiet voice. “I miss you Aunt Jordan.” she said softly. Her niece’s voice is so low she has a hard time hearing her at first. Jordan feels a pain grow in her chest, focusing on the picture. “I miss you too Ayden.” she says just as softly. “I miss you so much.” Silence. Jordan’s the first to break the silence. “I’m so sorry I haven’t been calling like I promised. This job is busier than I thought it’d be. Emails have just been easier.” “It’s okay….I can live with a couple of emails a week. Just as long as I get to talk to my favorite aunt.” Jordan can picture  the grin that she knows is on her niece’s face. “I wouldn’t let your aunt Jamie hear you call me your favorite.” she laughs. “Eh, what Aunt Jamie doesn’t know doesn’t hurt me.” Ayden responds. After a few more minutes, Jordan lets out a sigh. “I’ve got to go baby girl. I promise I’ll call you back later this week okay?” she asks softly. “Yeah, okay. I love you Aunt Jordan.” The smile appears again. “I love you too Ayden. Give Daddy my love.” “I will.” With that, the doctor hangs up her cell phone, tucking it back into her pocket. Letting out one more sigh, she feels a tear roll down her cheek. She reaches up, wiping the others that have formed in the corner of her eyes, not willing to let them fall.