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♡LUCIDITY CAME SLOWLY ♡

When Maggie enters the apartment, two bodies slam into hers, arms hugging her impossibly tight.

"You're back," Jenny's sweet voice sings, gentle and soft, a relief from the harshness of New York City. Cleo nods in agreement. They release their friend. Maggie cannot help but smile at the sight of the two. She takes each of their hands. They stare back at her with a happiness that is tainted by the memories of why she left.

"How have things been?" Maggie asks, desperately hoping they will not bring the past up. She glances between them, focuses in on the poorly-masked uncertainty, their faltering smiles and sad eyes. "They've been okay," Jenny answers timidly. Cleo nods. Maggie hears a ringing in her ears. She stares off, begins to fade out, reveling in the anxiety of being back here.

Jenny says something about tips being better than normal at Lenny's, and then the books she's read this past week, the movies she's watched. She says she made lemon bars and saved a few for Maggie. She tells Maggie everything, talking excitedly at her, holding her by her arms, walking her over to the bookshelf to show her what she's borrowed from the library. She knows Maggie is not listening, is not even in her own body, but her fingertips rub over the softness of Maggie's sweater, near obsessive, foolish, as she tries to make her feel involved in their lives still despite her absence. Cleo watches the one-sided conversation from a distance, an uneasy look on her face as she tries to come up with an excuse to drag Jenny away.

"I got this one for you," Jenny chimes, holding Maggie close as she points to a paperback book on the sparse shelf. Norwegian Wood. Maggie does not see it. She does not see anything. She feels unreal. Out of her own body. Jenny's smile does not falter. "Maggie?" she asks a bit louder, while still maintaining a gentle voice. Maggie looks at her suddenly, her eyes widening a bit, a shaky breath expelled from her, like she has been thrusted back into her own being.

"I got this for you at the library," Jenny repeats, emphasizing the book again. Maggie's eyes focus on the text on the worn spine. She likes Murakami, but no strong feelings are stirred within her except guilt, for not feeling grateful enough for Jenny's thoughtfulness. She forces a smile.

"Thank you, Jenny," she murmurs, squeezing her friends shoulder. Cleo comes over, slightly relieved, wrapping her arm around Maggie's shoulders. "Kurt called," she offers gently. "He wanted to come over to see you. I told him I'll ask you first."

Her words hang there, convoluted by Maggie's state of anguish. She feels a prick of warmth, some sadness, and dread too. She's missed him. That dreary day in the hospital, the day that he took her hand while she lie half-lucid in a hospital bed, feels like a lifetime ago. But shame and fear are apparent. So much has changed within her. She fears she will ruin things.

She nods, despite her uncertainty. "I would like to see him." Cleo nods, her gait careful. "Should i call him? Or do you want to?" She asks. Maggie offers Cleo a sympathetic look. "Could you?"

Cleo nods. "Of course."

Maggie and Jenny sit down on the sofa while Cleo goes to call Kurt. They read together. The words on the yellowing pages do not register with Maggie as she listens in on Cleo's conversation with Kurt.

Hey Kurt, Maggie says it's ok for you to come over now.

There's silence, Kurt presumably talking. Cleo hums.

Ok. We'll see you soon. Bye.

Maggie stares down at her book, her stomach turning as she awaits Kurt's presence.

A/N: Sorry about how despicably short this chapter is; I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. Thank you for your continued support on this story💗