Sweet Magnolia, Can You Hear Me?

Eight

"Hello?"

"Is this Jude Wilmer?"

"Yes."

"This is Lindsay from Northway Hospital's Psychiatric Unit, Adolescent Wing. A patient by the name of Magnolia Lux would like to speak to you."

"Okay, uh, put her through."

"Jude?"

"Maggie? Is everything okay?"

"It's been a whole week since you last called me, Jude."

"You told me not to call you again."

"I, uh, I forgot about that. Sorry, I'll let you go."

"Don't hang up, Maggie."

"Okay, I won't."

"How have you been?"

"I'm on a bunch of new medications and I've been going to therapy every single day. My memory is starting to improve, Jude!"

"That's incredible, Maggie! I'm so happy for you."

"You don't sound very happy."

"I'm happy for you, Mags."

"..."

"Maggie?"

"You were my boyfriend."

"Is that a question or a statement?"

"You were my boyfriend and my brother's best friend, right?"

"That's right."

"And my brother is dead."

"Yes."

"Did I kill him?"

"No, Maggie. You were in the car but you didn't kill him. It was a drunk driver, Mags, not you."

"Were you in the car? I remember you being there."

"No, I wasn't in the car with you and Eric."

"Were you... Were you the drunk... The drunk driver? Were you the drunk driver, Jude?"

"No, Maggie. But, um, I was in the car with the drunk driver."

"Who was it?"

"My father."

"Your dad killed my brother?"

"Yes."

"Is he in prison?"

"No... He's not in prison."

"He killed my brother. He should be in prison. Should be in prison."

"Don't get upset, Mags. Please."

"Where is he? What if he hurts someone else?"

"He's in the ground, Maggie. My father will never hurt anyone ever again."

"He's... Your dad is dead?"

"Jude wasn't the only casualty that night."

"Your dad and my brother were killed by the same accident? How did we not die?"

"I guess we're the lucky ones."

"I don't feel very lucky."

"Neither do I."

"Jude?"

"Maggie?"

"Why am I here? In this hospital, I mean."

"You were in a coma from the accident and when you woke up, well, you weren't really you."

"I don't understand. I've always been me."

"Of course, Maggie. I just mean you weren't all there, does that make sense?"

"I guess. I don't remember waking up from a coma."

"It was the best day of my life, but also one of the worst."

". . . Were you hurt? In the accident? I think I had a broken leg, but were you hurt?"

"Yes, I was hurt."

"Are you still hurt?"

"I'm no longer in pain, if that's what you mean."

"What happened to you?"

"..."

"Jude? Have I upset you?"

"No, you haven't upset me."

"Do you not want to tell me?"

"I don't want you to be upset by what I tell you."

"I won't be."

"Do you remember watching the show Friday Night Lights?"

"Yes... I think I remember."

"Do you remember Jason? Jason Street?"

"..."

"Please don't cry, Maggie."

"You're paralyzed, aren't you?"

"Just from the waist down, Mags."

"Here I am complaining when you can't even walk."

"Maggie, calm down. You need to calm down, okay?"

"And Eric is fucking dead. I didn't say goodbye. Didn't say goodbye. I didn't say- I didn't go to his funeral. I didn't go."

"Maggie, please."

"Fuck. Shit. Fuck. Shit. Shit. Shit."

"Maggie? Maggie, what is that noise? What are you doing? Maggie!"

"Magnolia's going insane!"

"Who is this? Go get a nurse!"

"Nurse! Nurse! Nurse! The nut has cracked! HAHAHA the nut has cracked!"

"Go to your room, Michael. I need backup!"

beep beep beep

Author's note: I want to thank everyone who has read my story so far! I hope y'all like it!