Chat

“It’s a girl.”

“Congratulations, Jenny! And you were worried.”

“All the tests showed she was a boy. I’m so glad she’s not. My husband has a girl to spoil!”

“That’s great news! After four boys, I imagine you’re excited.”

I turned my head.

“I took your advice. I left my job.”

“How did it make you feel, Tim?”

“Refreshing, like a new break. I appreciate you helping me get over those blind spots I have.”

“If you’re me, you have time on your hands to help others. What’s your next step?”

“Don’t need one. Remember me telling you about Hal, the guy who left last year to start his own company. I let him know I had left the company and he hired me. He’s giving me two weeks to get situated and I start. Woo-hoo!”

“Terrific!

I looked at the third screen.

“But no one cares.”

“I care.”

“You’re a nameless, faceless person who could never in a million…no trillion years…understand what I’m going through. I know we’ve been talking for weeks, but you’re not here.”

I focused. The others continued, but they didn’t need my attention.

“I’m here now. I feel pain, just like you do. I know loss, just like you.”

“Justin didn’t leave you. He didn’t rip a whole in your heart and begin again with Susie.”

“No, he did not. Then again, I’m a straight man.”

No response. A minute passed, then two.

Then, finally…

“Snort. That’s funny.”

I didn’t respond for a moment.

“You can laugh, you can recover.”

Nothing.

“Maybe not now.”

“Why not?”

“It’s too late.”

I felt and heard my heart beat faster.

“Why is that?”

“Too many pills. I…”

I panted.

I looked to the first screen where Jenny and I had been chatting. I blinked a few times and back to Gracie’s screen.

“Gracie, where are you?”

“…my…house…”

I blinked as fast as I could.

“911. What is your emergency?”

I hated the robotic sound of my voice.

“I have a friend who has taken too many pills.”

“Where is the address?”

“52 Honeysuckle, San Diego. I’m texting with her now.”

“Can you keep her on the line talking?”

“I’m trying.”

I went back to the third screen.

“Gracie, people are coming.”

“…didn’t need…”

“Yes, I did. You’re my friend. I don’t have too many.”

“…my friend? …never met?”

“People can bond and never meet.”

“…hear sirens…”

“They’re coming to help.”

“…thank…”

I went back to Tim and jumped around in his screen while he went on about his new job. Found what I needed. Blink, blink. The sound started.

“Dispatch, this is 29. Patient is breathing and we are on our way to SD Emergency. This is a close one. Her friend needs a hi five for calling us when he did.”

I leaned back. Heavy footsteps. Voice from my side.

“How is it going today? Did you save the world again?”

“Not yet.”

“That’s funny, Eddie.

“I’ve been told I have a good sense of humor, Claire.”

“You know you do. What’s been going on this morning?”

“Jenny had a baby girl, Tim got a job, and Gracie is getting help.”

“Really, a girl? They wanted a girl. I’m glad the test were wrong.”

A straw hit the side of my mouth before finding its way in.

“Nice to see Tim won’t be home playing video games until one in the morning with you. How’s Gracie been doing?”

I slurped the water from the straw.

“She’ll be fine.”

“All before noon.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Don’t you, ma’am me”

“Lol.”

Movement around me.

A hand reached over and touched mine and squeezed.

I looked up at my screens in front of me. The three connected me to the outside world and the one above them, monitoring my heartbeat, my oxygen, and my communication with my caregivers. I blinked several times. My words appeared on the overhead screen.

“Love you, too, Claire. I have Greg and Mandy buzzing me and I need to talk with them.”

“You go do that. I’ll be right here.”

Creaking of the chair.

“Eddie, are you there? It’s Mandy! You’re not going to believe what happened today.”

I blinked rapidly and the words formed on the screen.

“Can’t wait to hear how finals went.”

A sigh from the chair.

“You know she aced them. You’ve been coaching her for weeks.”

If I could have smiled, I would have. Instead I blinked to her.

“ :} ”