Free Live Free and Love by Emily Stone

he missed her.
     
    ****
     
    “Mr. Cooley, I understand sir, but it’s something that I think I need to do.”
     
    Kristina sat in her boss’s office, trying to get him to grant her vacation time. He was acting like he was being asked to cut off his left arm.
     
    “Kristina, you just got back,” he said, shaking his head. “You’re needed.”
     
    “Sir, but if you remember, I was gone on assignment. It wasn’t a vacation for me. I haven’t taken a day off since I started working here. I think I deserve some time off. You have seven other journalists that are really good at their jobs. I know that because you only hire the best.”
     
    She figured that if she stroked his ego, he would agree. They went back and forth on the issue for about another ten minutes before the door opened and Janine walked in.
     
    “Janine, I’m with one of my employees. May I ask why you’re in my office?” Cooley said, his lips puckering as they always did when he talked to her.
     
    “Cooley, it’s so nice to see you’re still being an asshole. How about you try not being one and give her the damn time off she’s requesting?”
     
    It sounded as if he was choking on his own spit as he searched for something to say. Kristina looked at her friend and fought not to smile.
     
    “I don’t use my position to my own advantage much, and normally I let you handle and deal with your employees how you see fit, but don’t forget who hired you, Cooley. All she’s asking for is a month off, damn it.” With that, Janine turned on her heel and walked out the office. When she got to the door, she winked at Kristina.
     
    Looking at Mr. Cooley, Kristina almost laughed. His face was so red; she thought it would explode at any time.
     
    “Well, it looks like my mind has been made up for me. One month, Kristina, then I want you back here ready to work. Is that understood?”
     
    “Yes sir, it is.” She stood and walked from the office, giggling under her breath as Cooley cursed Janine’s very soul.
     
    Janine was in her office when she got there.
     
    “You know you didn’t have to do that,” Kristina told her, smiling. “I was wearing him down.”
     
    “Hey, what good is being senior partner of this God-forsaken publishing firm if I can’t use my authority for anything? Besides, I can’t stand him. He’s mad because he wanted the job I have. Too bad I’m so much better than him,” Janine said, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
     
    “Oh my God, you’re so full of it,” Kristina said, laughing.
     
    “I know, right? So when does your leave start?”
     
    “Right now; let’s go.”
     
    ****
     
    “I don’t even know how to find him. It’s not like I can call the military and ask. They won’t just tell me,” Kristina said to Janine.
     
    “Try to call him again. Only this time tell him that you’re hurt or something.” At Kristina’s look, she said, “What, it will get him to call you back, right? It serves him right for ignoring your phone calls this long.”
     
    “I know about that. It seems harsh,” Kristina said.
     
    “Well do you have any other ideas?”
     
    “Well, no.” She exhaled loudly. “Alright, I’ll do it, but if he doesn’t call back I’m going to punch you for suggesting it,” Kristina said.
     
    Janine just hunched her shoulders and took a sip of the wine she was drinking.
     
    Kristina picked up her phone and dialed Danny’s number. As usual, it went to voicemail.
     
    Instead of hanging up, she waited until she could leave a message.
     
    “Danny, its Kristina. I’m at the hospital and I need you to call me please,” she said, trying to sound urgent.
     
    She hung up without saying another word, feeling horrible for what she had just done. She didn’t want to worry him for no reason.
     
    She looked over at Janine and raised her eyebrows.
     
    “Now we wait,” Janine said.
     
    Kristina sat back and tried to watch the television. Her eyes kept straying to her phone,