Another week behind her. One of Sam's simple pleasures was that moment when you first realize you're done for the week. This was one of those weeks where the pleasure was doubled knowing she hadn't planned anything for the weekend either. The week had been filled with too many extra appointments, late nights and emails placating clients; long overdue for a relaxing night in.
In the door she kicked off her flats, and pulled out her hair tie letting her brown hair brush her shirt. Sam wove her fingers into her hair until she found her scalp and slowly massaged. The first sensations of her fingers, well, anyone's fingers really, after a day of her hair pulled back were another simple pleasure she loved.
Thud.
She found the wall behind her and enjoyed another minute of her scalp massage before thoughts started trickling in. That client who sent the angry email earlier this week. How was she going to reply? What the hell was she supposed to do about it, considering it wasn't supposed to be her problem in the first place. Ugh fuck this.
If I could go five minutes without thinking about work this weekend, that would be a godsend, she thought. Sam grabbed the phone while walking into the kitchen for a snack. With luck she'd be able to go at least the evening without another intrusive thought if she just had someone to vent about it for a bit. Bri was really good about that. She got it, because her work had the same crap to deal with.
"Bri. Can I just tell you about this email I got so that I can get it out and on with my weekend?" Sam and Bri were friends largely because both of their jobs entailed dealing with unreasonable clients at a law firm.
"Oh God you too? Let me guess, they'd like you to come back and have another meeting just to go over things one more time."
Sam let out a sigh and went to her room, diving into her story. Twenty minutes later, chatting with a friend that understood, she felt better.
"God, thanks for listening and the advice. I really needed it, Bri."
"I love chatting with you, it always destresses me to know that I'm not the only one who has trouble letting an angry client email not get to me."
"Exactly. Hey. Don't undo the progress now. I expect you to keep up the hard work of relaxing for the rest of the night. I'm going to text you in the morning to make sure you did your homework."
Sam was one step ahead, thinking about a nice bath. If only she could get a massage. Full body massage.
"Goodnight," Bri said.
"Night, Bri," Sam replied midthought. A foot massage. Legs. As her eyes moved over her body, imagining hands on her, Sam suddenly realized Bri was waiting for her to hang the phone up.
"Sorry I got distracted, I'll talk to you later," she said, but she was interrupted by the sound of noise, and then nothing. Sam was about to hang the phone up, but she wondered why Bri hadn't yet. Sam always had this issue about being the first to hang up. Bri must have meant to hang up but didn't turn the phone off.
It was time to relax, physically. Being able to unload her thoughts made her bodily needs all the more apparent. Probably a bath would be nice. She took in a slow breath, watching her chest push against her shirt as she did. Sam got up from her lingering thought, took the phone from her ear and was just about to turn it off when a moan came from the speaker. A whimper, sort of. Sam caught her breath.