Chapter 18 You Alright Back There?
Maggie adjusted the weight of the bags in both hands as she moved down the polished corridor, her footsteps slow but steady.
“I'd kill to have some help me right now,” she muttered to herself, tightening her grip as one of the straps slid lower on her shoulder.
She stopped briefly, exhaled, then continued forward.
At the nurses’ counter, Becky’s head lifted almost immediately.
“Maggie,” Becky said, rising from her chair, concern flickering across her face. “Is the Uber here already?”
“Yes,” Maggie answered with a small smile, shifting one bag to her other hand. “He just arrived.”
Becky walked around the counter.
“That was fast,” she said, studying Maggie’s face. “Okay, be strong.”
“I'll try,” Maggie replied.
Then muttered. “I will. I must."
Becky nodded slowly as she watched Maggie’s lips mumbled.
“Promise me something,” Becky spoke again, lowering her voice slightly.
“What?” Maggie asked.
“Don’t forget your medications,” she said firmly. “Morning, afternoon, night. No skipping.”
“I won’t,” Maggie said quickly. “I wrote it down. Twice.”
Becky smiled.
“That sounds like you're probably responsible,” she teased.
Maggie laughed softly.
“I guess I’m responsible… even if I don’t remember being responsible.”
Becky reached out and squeezed Maggie’s arm.
“You’ll be fine.”
“I hope so,” Maggie replied, glancing toward the elevator.
She raised her hand.
“Bye, Becky.”
Becky waved back.
“Bye,” she said. “And call the clinic if you feel dizzy, confused, or lost —”
“I know,” Maggie interrupted gently. “Anything strange.”
Becky nodded.
Maggie stepped into the elevator.
“Take care of yourself,” Becky called just before the doors closed.
“I will,” Maggie replied, waving as the doors slid shut.
Becky watched the elevator descend on the digital screen until it disappeared.
She sighed and sat back down.
The nurse beside her turned slightly in her chair.
“Is that the woman who lost her memories?” the nurse asked quietly.
“Yes,” Becky answered without looking up. “That’s Maggie.”
“She’s going home alone?” the nurse continued, brows knitting together.
“Yes.”
The nurse frowned.
“Doesn’t she have any family?”
“She does,” Becky replied. “They live in different states.”
“So?” the nurse pressed. “Couldn’t someone fly in? Especially now?”
Becky paused, fingers hovering above the keyboard.
“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “That’s not our call.”
“That’s sad,” the nurse murmured.
“I know,” Becky agreed.
“Does she have a partner?” the nurse asked after a moment.
“She does,” Becky replied. “She’s married.”
The nurse’s head snapped up.
“Married?” she repeated. “And her partner knows she’s here?”
“Yes,” Becky said. “He brought her here himself.”
“Then why isn’t he here now?” the nurse asked sharply. “Why is she leaving alone?”
Becky exhaled.
“He says he's out of the country,” she said.
The nurse scoffed quietly.
“Out of the country,” she repeated. “Leaving his wife like that? He must be a bad partner.”
Becky finally looked at her.
“Don’t jump to conclusions,” she said calmly. “He’s always the one bringing flowers every time he visits.”
“Really?” the nurse asked, surprised.
“Yes,” Becky nodded. “Always polite. Always asking questions.”
The nurse leaned back.
“Well,” she said slowly, “maybe something urgent came up.”
“Maybe,” Becky replied.
“Marriage is a complicated thing,” the nurse added.
“Very complicated,” Becky agreed.
They both turned back to their screens.
In the parking lot, Maggie stepped out of the automatic doors, the cool air brushing against her face.
She paused, scanning the row of cars.
A man leaned casually against a dark sedan, glancing at his phone.
Maggie approached carefully.
“Excuse me,” she said softly. “Are you my Uber?”
The man looked up.
“Mrs. Lock?” he asked.
“Yes,” Maggie replied immediately. “That’s me.”
He smiled.
“Then yes, I’m your ride,” he said, stepping forward. “Let me help you with those.”
“Oh— thank you,” Maggie said, handing over her bags.
“You’re welcome,” the driver replied, lifting them with ease. “You can go ahead and sit.”
“Alright,” Maggie said, opening the back door.
She settled into the seat, smoothing her clothes, hands folded tightly in her lap.
The driver closed the trunk, walked around, and got into the driver’s seat.
“Comfortable?” he asked as he started the engine.
“Yes,” Maggie replied. “Thank you.”
“No problem,” he said, pulling out of the parking lot.
Maggie looked out the window as the clinic disappeared behind them.
Her phone buzzed.
She glanced at it.
Andrew.
She hesitated, then answered.
“Hello?” she said.
“You’re on your way?” Andrew asked.
“Yes,” Maggie replied. “I just left.”
“Good,” he said. “Text me when you get home.”
“I will,” she said quietly.
A pause.
“Andrew?” she added.
“Yes?”
“When will you get back?” she asked.
Another pause.
“Why are you asking?” he replied flatly.
“I just wanna know,” Maggie whispered.
"You'll know when I'm back when I'm back, not a second sooner."
The call ended.
She lowered the phone slowly.
The driver glanced at her through the mirror.
“You alright back there?” he asked.