Lets play the game of...What's the tone??? :D

"Yeah mom. I know."

She plopped down tiredly on the couch, her hair falling to shield her eyes.

"Yeah. Yeah. I know, I'm sorry."

Her mother's voice on the other line turned shrill, then soft, then shrill again.

"Yes, I knew what I was doing. I mean, I thought I knew what I was doing. No, I didn't think through to see the effect it would have on you and dad. Yes, I DO realize what effect this could have on my future."

She lay flat on the couch now, stomach pressed to the soft cushion as she closed her eyes to stop the tears.

As hard as she tried, no more words came into her mouth. Only the aching feeling of emptiness, weariness, and some other uncontrollable hunger filled her heart and mind.

After the bitter one-sided conversation ended, she pressed her shaking finger on the call END button. She lay there, silently, alone in the quiet room, and waited for darkness to slip over her.

"This is it then," she whispered, just before her last moments. "This is the end."