Maggie nodded, already feeling resistance to the assignment but knowing it was necessary.
“One more thing,” Kim said as their session wound down. “You mentioned Sarah wanted you to find someone who wouldn’t let you hide. Someone who would make you laugh. Someone who would remind you that you’re allowed to be afraid.”
“Yes.”
“It sounds like you found her,” Kim said simply. “The question is—are you going to let yourself keep her?”
Day twenty-two brought the call Maggie had been dreading.
She was in the middle of her third coffee and fifth ethics module when her phone lit up with Evie’s name.
Can I call you?
Maggie:Of course. Everything okay?
The phone rang immediately.
“Hey,” Maggie said, already hearing the strain in Evie’s voice through that single syllable.
“Daisy’s declining,” Evie said without preamble. “Fast. Her renal function crashed overnight. Blood pressure’s unstable. Kara’s with her now and she’s—” Her voice cracked. “She’s asking for you.”
Maggie closed her laptop, already moving. “I can’t come to the hospital, Evie. The suspension?—”
“I know,” Evie said quickly. “I told her. But I thought you’d want to know. That she was asking.”
Maggie sank onto the couch, feeling helpless in a way she hadn’t since Sarah’s final days. “How long does she have?”
“Days. Maybe less.” Evie’s breath shuddered. “I’m trying to keep her comfortable. Make sure Kara has what she needs. But Maggie—I don’t know how to do this without you. This feels hard.”
“Yes, you do,” Maggie said firmly, even as her own chest tightened. “You know exactly how. You’ve been doing it since I left.”
“It’s not the same.”
“I know.” Maggie closed her eyes, wishing she could be there. Wishing she could stand beside Evie in Daisy’s room and help carry this weight. “Tell me what’s happening. Walk me through it.”
So Evie did. She described Daisy’s declining vitals, the medication adjustments, the difficult conversation with Kara about hospice care and what comfort measures looked like. She talked about sitting with Daisy during rounds, holding her hand while she drifted in and out of consciousness.
“She keeps asking if we figured it out,” Evie said. “You and me. If we stopped being idiots and chose each other.”
“What did you tell her?”
“The truth. That we did. That you’re at home being forced to sit still while I handle everything here. That it’s hard but we’re making it work.”
“What did she say?”
Evie’s voice softened. “She said ‘good.’ And then she said ‘Don’t wait. Life’s too short to waste time being angry.’”
Maggie felt tears prick at her eyes. “She’s right.”
“I know.” Evie was quiet for a moment. “I wish you were here.”
“Me too.” Maggie gripped the phone tighter. “But you’re doing everything right, Evie. You’re giving her what she needs. Presence. Honesty. Comfort. That’s all we can ever give.”
“It doesn’t feel like enough.”
“It never does,” Maggie said gently. “But it is. Trust me. I learned that with Sarah. The being there matters more than the fixing.”
Evie exhaled shakily. “I have to go. Patel’s calling me back for rounds. But can I call you later? Just to talk?”
