There it was again. The call. The never-ending call.
Della turned back toward the screen. The television was dark, not even turned on, yet the call remained.
“Just one more,” she heard herself mutter. “I have time for one more episode.”
She looked back over her shoulder. The dining room table was covered in stacks of books, the open laptop, and papers littering the space. The kitchen sink not far behind was filled with dishes not yet cleaned. The counters were littered with old food never put away.
Della sighed. “No, I need to get to work.”
The call grew louder.
Della covered her ears and screwed her eyes shut tight.
An image appeared behind her eyelids. The living room filled with people of varying ages, all conversing as the television played a cartoon in the background. No one paid the television any mind save for the little girl sitting on the floor, her eyes glued to the screen. No one sought her attention or noticed her among them, focused on one another as she focused on the screen.
Della snapped her eyes open and turned away from the television, skittering over to the table covered in clutter.
“Just focus on the assignment,” she muttered to herself, “don’t focus on the TV or you’ll get stuck on it again and get nothing done.”
She nodded and sat down in front of the laptop. She raised her fingers to the keyboard, but they froze before she could place her fingertips to the keys. She looked up. The television remained. The call was still there.
Della looked down at the time listed on her computer. It was nearly dinner time. She looked back at the kitchen, which was still a mess.
“You brought this on yourself,” she muttered. “Work or dinner first? Pick one. Either way will require straightening up before anything else.”
She glanced back at the television. She stood up, following the pull to come closer. She sat down on the floor in front of it.
“One more before I get to work won’t hurt, right?” she asked the television.
The television did not respond.
“Just one episode,” she decided. “Just one. I can stop after just one.”
She nodded and reached for the remote.