Nora Goes Off Script

by Annabel Monaghan

“So, this is your last Laurel Ridge sunrise.” “No. This is day six, which includes night six, which includes the sunrise tomorrow. What time’s checkout?” “We’re pretty relaxed about that here.” He looks at me with something that resembles gratitude, and I wonder if this time has done him any good. “Are you glad you stayed? I mean, do you feel any better?” “I feel pretty good. I was just thinking how much I miss being a part of a family. Like when I was growing up, we were this unit, and there was so much give-and-take. My brother, Luke, and I had to share food and space and attention. Now I barely see him, and my life’s all about me. It’s exhausting.” “Must be nice,” I say out loud by mistake. He gives me a nudge. “I know I sound like an asshole, but look at your life. You live for your kids, and they live for you. There’s something almost sacred about what you have. In my life, I live for my career, and all the people around me are paid to live for my career. I swear last Thanksgiving I looked around my table and realized everyone there was on my payroll.” “Come on. You must have had some kind of normal relationship. Like with a woman who liked you and laughed at your lame jokes.” “Sure, tons. But the thing is they all liked me before they met me, like they fell in love with something they saw in People magazine. When my mom died, I thought: I just lost the last woman in the world who knew me. Of course, I don’t bother getting to know them either.” “I met Ben so young tha...