"She's alive, isn't she?" Elara spoke into the phone, then paused to listen.
"Alive? That's very generous of you," the voice on the other end replied. "Especially since you happened to 'trip' over the stairs. Don't think I don't know Maxine is only alive because you lost consciousness."
Elara ignored the jab before speaking again. "But didn't I tell you to never let me see her?"
She took another slow drag of her cigarette, waiting for the response.
"She only went to say goodbye to her friend," her mother explained. "You were the one in the wrong place at the wrong time. Why? Did you follow her?"
"I was there first," Elara said with a low chuckle. "She was the one who followed me."
A heavy sigh came through the phone before her mother spoke again. "She hasn't recovered yet, but I have already sent her away. Are you happy now?"
"Yeah," Elara replied, her voice cold. "That's good."
"Seriously, Elara!"
And the line cut off.
---
