I answered the unknown number instead of staring at it until it stopped

Dear Delyara, And no, it wasn’t exciting. It was the dentist. Which somehow makes it better. I’m so used to the tiny physical dread of unknown numbers — what do they want, what have I forgotten, what needs handling now, what bad timing is about to enter the day through this ring? Usually I let it go to voicemail and deal with the after-anxiety later. This time I answered. It was fine. Ordinary. Almost boring. I’m trying to collect evidence that not every opening leads somewhere hard.