Sweet Magnolia, Can You Hear Me?

Seventeen

"Hello, you've reached Northway Hospital's Psychiatric Unit. This is Lindsay."

"Hey, it's Jude. I'm just calling to see if Maggie is okay."

"Can I be honest with you?"

"Nothing has stopped you before."

"Maggie is not okay, Jude. It's been almost a week since you stopped calling her and she hasn't come out of her room once."

"Is she worse? Than before, I mean."

"It's not that simple with Maggie. One day she's okay, smiling and chatting, and then the next she's like a whole other person."

"I stopped calling because I didn't want to hurt her. I guess anything I do will hurt her."

"Listen, Jude. I honestly don't know if Maggie even remembers why she's upset. I know this isn't easy to hear, but she'll forget about you soon."

"Thank you, Lindsay."

"Jude?"

"Hmm?"

"I was on the adults wing today and noticed a room marked Wilmer. Is there any relation?"

"I... It's... Are you even allowed to ask me that?"

"She was admitted two weeks after Maggie was. Have you called her yet?"

"If you really must know, Lindsay. No, I haven't called or visited her. Goodbye, Lindsay."

beep beep beep