He glanced at the screen. It was a number he didn’t recognize. Could it be Josh?
“Hello?” There was a moment of silence. Austin lowered his voice and sank down into his cubicle. He cleared his throat and started again, treating it like the call came in through the switchboard. Hope must have given him the note. Josh might have confused which number to call. Austin took a chance and answered his cell the way he would have answered his work line. “Suicide Prevention. This is Austin. I’m glad you called.” There was another moment of silence.
“Why?” the caller said. It was a young male. Austin knew it was Josh. Hope had given him the note.
“Because you’re reaching out for help and that takes guts.”
“Whatever.”
Oh yes. Definitely Josh. “Are you feeling so bad that you’re thinking about suicide?”
“Maybe.”
“Have you thought about how you would do it?”
“It might just involve Christmas lights.”
Austin was glad to hear the sarcasm. That was actually a good sign.
