ELIZA

29

Alina felt her phone buzz on the drive home.

Al, what's wrong?

Alina, eyes burning, struggled to look at the name. Without understanding who it was, Alina replied blindly, typing clumsily.

i'm having a mmmm. mmmannnic. episodeeee.

Her phone began to ring immediately.

"Hey, mama." Said the warm voice, calm, sniffling.

"I'm going home now. I'm going home now. I'm. I'm. I'm." Alina said incoherently.

"I know, mama, it's ok. Just stay on the line with me." the voice replied.

Alina was so gone. She just knew that the voice was loving and kind.

"Tell me what's going on." the voice continued.

"I-95. Hutchinson. Wait. I'm not going home. Dad! Dad! Where are we going?" Alina babbled, confused.

Saint Vincent's Hospital, the sign said.

"Saint Vincent's Hospital. I'm going to the hospital! I don't wanna go. I don't wanna go. They treat us like prisoners." Alina said to the voice.

"It's ok. It's going to be ok. That's the safest place you can be." the voice said, Alina suddenly realized who it was in a moment of clarity.

"Eliza! Eliza!" she yelled, heartbroken.

"Yes, yes, it's me." Eliza said, crying.

Alina's father stopped the car, ready to let her go onto the stretcher.

"Eliza! I love you!" Alina said as the hospital staff started to grab her phone from her.

"I know..." Alina could hear from a distance.