Steffi raises an eyebrow in the way that only she can, with a crazy high arch and leering eyes. “Has it happened?”
“What?”
“Have you slept with him?” She says this so loudly that I turn to see if anyone outside the room has heard. Jamie is trying not to laugh.
“Well...”
“I’m on limited time, kiddo. Spill.”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“And... it’s awesome. He’s awesome.”
“Esben is as cool as I first thought, right?” she says happily. “I was right about him, wasn’t I?”
“You were. Very, very right.”
For over an hour, she makes me tell her everything that’s gone down. So, I update her about Esben and school and Simon. About Simon’s care packages, about what’s going on with Carmen, Kerry, Jason, and Danny. I tell her much about my new world that she hasn’t heard and that I wish she were a part of, could be a part of.
I’m having a hard time keeping my breathing even. Something about having a seemingly routine conversation makes being here all the more frightening. I glance at Jamie, and she gives me a reassuring nod. I should just let this happen; that’s what she’s telling me.
“Oh, the bracelet!” Steffi says. “Lemme see!” She grabs my hand and gasps. “It’s gorgeous. He did so good. He’s here, right? Where is he?” She looks over my shoulder. “I know I look like crap, but hello? Hospital. He won’t care, right? Also, you haven’t commented on my shirt. Simon’s doing, of course. Somehow he got this to me today.”
I hadn’t noticed, but now I look down and smile. She’s wearing a red shirt with a Wonder Woman logo on the front. It’s perfect.
“They let me change out of that freakin’ hideous hospital gown. Orhospicegown, if we’re being technical. Because that’s basically what this is. How depressing, right?”
I don’t know how to answer her. How to do any of this. But Steffi keeps talking, so I’m given another moment to pull myself together.
“So, really, where’s Esben? I want to see all the videos and pictures he took. Why hasn’t he posted more? I’ve been following everything online. Dude, that limo situation was insane! I can’t believe it. Any of it. The only reason I looked away from the Internet was to chow down. You’ll try In-N-Out tomorrow, right? Promise me.”
“I promise.”
“Where’s Esben?” she asks yet again. “I want to see more.”
Her excitement makes me laugh. “I’ll get him.”
“Yes!”
It’s with caution and nerves that I walk to the door. “Esben? Steffi wants you to come in. To see what other pictures and video you have.”
“She does?” He’s as taken aback as I am. “Okay. Yeah. Of course.”
He follows me into the room, and I see Steffi’s eyes fixate on him. She’s silent now, waiting until he has pulled up a chair beside me. Steffi leans back against the mattress and looks at him. “Esben,” she says softly and reaches out.
“Steffi.” He takes her hand.
“It’s good to see you.” She’s quieter now, calmer. “Show me. Show me pictures from today. I want to see...” Steffi takes a few shallow breaths that alarm me. “... everything. And you have to post it all. This is my moment, right?” She cracks a smile.
“Sure. Whatever you want.”
Esben holds his phone up to her and swipes through photos and videos. She asks a hundred questions, and he answers them all. When he gets to the video of the flight attendant singing, Steffi suddenly reaches to her side, but for what, I’m not sure.
“Steffi? What is it?” I ask.
Jamie is at Steffi’s side in a flash. “She just needs some oxygen. That’s all. It’s okay.” She moves smoothly as she lifts an oxygen mask over Steffi’s mouth.
