Control

CW: Domestic abuse, stalking

"Hi, it's April, can't answer the phone right now, please leave a message."

"Hey, it's me. Your voicemail used to be full; you must have cleaned it out. I know, I know, we aren't supposed to contact each other for at least a month, but I have been thinking a lot, and I wanted to talk to you about it. Look, I know I screwed up, big time. I took you for granted, I wasn't there for you when your dad was sick, and I was a real jerk that night, you know the one I am talking about. Please call me back. There is no reason we can't just talk. I love you."

"Hey, I'm out, leave me a message, maybe I'll get back to you."

"Josh, it's April. I told you we need a break; a month is not a long time to ask for. I need to think, clear my head, and understand what happened that night. I am still angry; I need time and space. Please do not contact me again, I will get in touch when I am ready. I need you to respect this. And me."

"Hi, it's April, can't answer the phone right now, please leave a message."

"Hey, thanks for calling, it was great to hear your voice. I really miss you, you know? Just isn't the same, not being with you. I don't eat right, I want your cooking, and my laundry isn't coming out the way it should. Benny misses you too; he looks around for you all the time and barks whenever he thinks he hears you coming up the steps. I called in sick to work because I am not sleeping well. Sat around and played video games all day. You will probably say that's what I did every day, huh? Please, please call me back and talk to me, don't just do a voicemail and send it without calling or letting me answer. I didn't even know you could do that."

"Hey, I'm out, leave me a message, maybe I'll get back to you."

"Josh, I mean it. That is enough. I do not want to talk, I have made that clear. Do not call me back."

"Hi, it's April, can't answer the phone right now, please leave a message."

"Hi again, and no, you did not make that clear. You said we were taking a break, that does not mean we can't talk, why don't you want to talk to me? In fact, you have to talk to me, I think I left some things I need at your place, and I need to come and get them when are you going to be home? Did I tell you I miss you? Well, I do. Work has been terrible, my brother won't talk to me right now, and you know that always makes me upset. I am upset, I WAS upset that night, I did not mean to say those things and push you. It was only a push, geez, just a little shove, really. I didn't mean anything, I wasn't trying to hurt you. I know I have said that before, and I mean it, I just have a little too much to drink and get carried away. Your friends probably told you that it was wrong, and now that's why you won't talk to me. They are always butting into our relationship; you shouldn't listen to them all the time, April. They have it out for me, and you know it; they are always saying bad things about me and you always listen to them."

"Hi, it's April, can't answer the phone right now, please leave a message."

"You turned your location off from me? What the hell, April, that's cold. I did not turn mine off; you can see wherever I am. That was the deal we had. Why would you do this? I was not stalking you; you didn't need to have Cassie call me and tell me to stop showing up places where you are. But what were you doing at that bar? We never went there; it's not even in your neighborhood. I just happened to walk by and saw your car parked there; I did not intentionally go there to see you. I don't understand why you won't talk to me. We had something good together, and I just want to see you. But don't have your friend do your dirty work, come and say it to me yourself. That's being a coward, and I always thought you could fight your own battles. Guess not."

"Hi, it's April, can't answer the phone right now, please leave a message."

"A restraining order, really? I was just near your work, it's a free country, I can go wherever I want. I had some errands near there and now look at what you have done. I can't believe you; I don't want to get near you anyway. You think you are something else, huh? Have all the answers; you always thought you were better than me. My family didn't really like you, thought you were a snob. Guess they were right, and I should have listened. Whatever, I'll see you when I see you. The officer that handed me the order said I can appeal it, I just may do that."

"Hi, it's April, can't answer the phone right now, please leave a message."

"Hi, it's me. Listen, we can work this out, I didn't mean to yell at you over the phone, I was just frustrated. I promise if you just talk to me, I won't get upset. Then you can stop the restraining order, and we won't have to go to court and can go back to normal. That would be best, we need each other. I really miss you, and I am sorry for everything and anything I did. I will do better, I promise. Just give me another chance, I will go to therapy or take an anger management course if that is what you want. Anything, just call me back."

"Hi, it's April, can't answer the phone right now, please leave a message."

"So the restraining order says I must stay at least 300 yards away, ha, they didn't say I couldn't use binoculars. Who is that guy, is he a co-worker? You better not be cheating on me, we are still together, I sent you a card, did you get it? I wanted to tell you how much you mean to me; I spent a long time picking it out. It's been five days now, April, that's enough. I have been patient, but now I am getting very upset. I don't know what I will do, see how angry you get me?"

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