“Hello Daughter”

Lori hadn't heard from her daughter Freddie in over a week. They didn't communicate much, but Lori always greeted her with a simple "hi" and Freddie would respond with "I'm still not dead." Lori respected Freddie's need for space, as she'd learned in a support group, where one mother explained that it's normal for children to take time to reconnect with their parents.

Lori knew it wasn't easy for Freddie, and she tried to keep that in mind. Over the past two months, she hadn't heard anything from Freddie beyond "I'm not dead." One day, Lori decided to visit Freddie at her apartment. She parked by the Saward apartment complex and took a picture for remembrance. As she walked, she noticed several young women in jean shorts, which seemed revealing even in the mid-eighties heat.

When she reached Freddie's building, she pressed the buzzer. "Shit! Orla! Hey, babe!" came Freddie's voice through the intercom. "I thought I told you to come by later, come on up." Lori responded, but Freddie didn't acknowledge her in the intercom. The buzzer sounded again and the door creaked open. Freddie was wearing only black lingerie, her makeup half-finished.

Lori asked if she could come inside but Freddie declined. Lori offered to share Freddie's bed, but Freddie refused. She suggested going dancing instead, but Lori wasn't sure if Freddie was being serious or sarcastic. Despite her initial awkwardness, Lori decided to sit on Freddie's bed and try to connect with her.