Page 26 of Obedience

With one hand in the pocket of her grey cotton shorts, the other arm over her shoulder, tucked behind her black hoodie, Dylan lay on her bed staring at the ceiling. The only sound in the room was the quiet, rhythmical whirring of machinery coming through the Margs monitor. On her iPad, the camera feed from downstairs twinkled with LED lights. The lens didn’t point solely at Margaret; instead, it stayed fixed from a distance on her and the essential equipment, allowing Dylan to monitor the room without frequent trips downstairs. Filming the room almost felt like a betrayal, another piece taken from her mother's last shreds of dignity, but safety was the only priority.

The phone, resting heavy on Dylan’s chest, suddenly vibrated.

Greta:

‘I’m really so very sorry, Dylan. You must think I'm insane.’

Dylan sat up, drawing in a sharp breath as she pushed herself back against the pillows resting on the headboard. Her heart rate quickened at the unexpected contact, thumbs a blur as they flew urgently across the screen.

Dylan:

‘I promise you I think no such thing. I do, however…’

Dylan bit her lip as she typed the next text

Dylan:

‘…think about you all the time.’

Then the next.

Dylan:

‘All. The. FUCKING. Time x’

Greta:

‘When two people can’t be together, when do they accept it and stop? You have to accept this and you have to stop’

Dylan:

‘They don’t stop, Greta. They never stop.’

Greta:

‘We can’t do this. You understand that don’t you? It’s not you. It’s me’

Dylan:

‘That’s some old chestnut!’

Greta:

‘I mean it, Dylan. It is not you. I just can’t. We can’t’

Dylan:

‘I will respect your wishes but I don’t agree and just so you know my thoughts, which have to count for something…We can.’

A beat passed as Dylan stared at her thumbs circling each other over the glass. She felt a sudden boldness.

Dylan:

‘Meet me.’

A long hopeful pause followed as Dylan looked at her phone.

Greta: