January 30th, 2016

"..."

"Are you finished ignoring me?"

"..."

"Do we need to go over telephone etiquette again? The person who calls is usually the one to talk first."

"..."

"Sophie-"

"Shut up! Just, please, Daniel. Shut up!"

"Sophie? What is it, what's wrong?"

"My brother... he's... shit!"

"Sophie, what's happened? Are you ok? What's happened with Lucas?"

"He's..."

"Sophie! Tell me!"

"He's in the hospital, Daniel. He collapsed at home and they're not sure if he's going to be ok."

"..."

"It's his lungs. They've moved him up the transplant list, but... it's not looking good."

"Fuck."

"Yeah."

"What do you need? Do you need me to come to you? Do you need me to feed your cat? Do you need a hug?"

"You're an idiot, Daniel. I don't have a cat."

"Right, but the other things?"

"My family are here, but thanks for the offer. Hugo's here, too."

"Ok."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Shit, Soph. I feel so fucking useless right now. You're at the hospital and I'm here and there's nothing I can do for you and it... it sucks."

"Trust me, you're doing more than you think."

"I am? How?"

"You're making me smile."

"I am?"

"You're clueless, aren't you, Danny Boy."

"Is that a question?"

"No, it was a statement."

"Oh. Well, uh... did you by any chance hear my answer phone message from yesterday?"

"Haha, yes, I heard it. It was classic you."

"I was a rambling idiot."

"Exactly. You are a rambling idiot. You kinda remind me of Hugh Grant, in a weird way."

"Hugh Grant? Is that an insult?"

"Depends."

"On?"

"Which version of Hugh Grant we're talking about. Notting Hill Hugh Grant, it's a compliment. Bridget Jones Hugh Grant, it's an insult."

"So, which version am I?"

"Notting Hill. Whoopsie daisy."

"I don't think I like being compared to Hugh Grant."

"Tough. It's not about what you like."

"I suppose not. So-"

"Are you packed for Dubai yet?"

"Almost ready. Do you want to talk about Lucas?"

"Nope."

"Sophie-"

"All I've done today is talk about him and I'm sick of it. They're all going on and on and on about how different he'll be after the operation- if he even gets that far- and I'm done hearing about it."

"Sophie-"

"I know that sounds mean, but... what if he dies, Daniel?"

"He won't-"

"You don't know that!"

"Ok, fine. I don't know that. If he dies- and that's a big if, because if he's anything like his eldest sister, he's too stubborn to bloody die- but if he dies, then there's one thing I can guarantee you."

"Yeah, what's that?"

"I'll be there. Whenever you need me, I'll be there. I'm always at the other end of the line, or if you need me with you, I'll be at your side. Sophie, everything is going to be ok."

"..."

"Please don't cry. I can't hug you and make it better."

"I'm not crying. I'm having a quiet mental breakdown, that's all."

"I'm going to sound like an absolute dick for saying this but I think I can cope better with you having a mental breakdown than you crying."

"Haha. That's silly."

"I'm aware. What have the doctors said?"

"Not a lot. They're worried about Lucas. He's got a chest infection and pneumonia, coupled with the Cystic Fibrosis. It's not looking good."

"But they've move him up the transplant list. Surely, that's a good sign?"

"You'd think. There's just so many hoops to jump through. Even if lungs become available, they need to be a match. Surgery is risky. There's just too much at stake."

"Sweetheart-"

"I'm scared."

"Perfectly normal, Soph."

"Not for me, it isn't."

"At least it proves you're human."

"Me being scared proves I'm human?"

"Yes. You are human. A quirky human, of course, but still human. And humans feel emotions. You're allowed to feel scared, Sophie."

"But I'm supposed to be the strong one, Daniel. When everyone else is falling apart, I'm the one that's supposed to keep them together."

"So, who keeps you together, huh? Who looks after you, Sophie?"

"..."

"Is Hugo with you now?"

"No. I ran away from him. He's just as bad as I am today. He and Lucas are close."

"You have no one with you?"

"I have you... don't I?"

"Always."

"There we are then."

"Do you want me to come to you? Do you need me to come to you?"

"No. Yes. No... I mean, no. I don't want the first time we meet to be in a hospital relatives room when my hair is all Medusa and my eyes are like Panda eyes and I'm as stinky as a pig."

"You're in luck. I love Medusa, Pandas and stinky pigs. Just say the word, and I'll be there."

"What's the word?"

"Pardon?"

"You said to say the word. What's the word?"

"Oh, right. Um... what do you think the word should be?"

"Something random."

"Right, like something we'd never use in our everyday life."

"Exactly. Do you have any ideas?"

"Antelopes."

"Antelopes?"

"Why, do you use 'antelopes' in everyday life?"

"No, but I'm not going to call you and say 'antelopes' either."

"How about 'galeanthropy?'"

"Is that a word?"

"Yes. It refers to the delusion that one has become a cat."

"A cat?"

"Yes."

"But there's already a word for that."

"And what would that be?"

"Stark raving mad."

"Well, there's that too, I guess."

"So, if I call you and say, 'galeanthropy', you'll come running?"

"Exactly."

"Ok, that works."

"On a serious note, Sophie. If you ever need me, I'm a phone call away."

"I know. Thanks, Daniel."

"You're welcome."

"I should get back to my family. They're probably wondering where I am."

"Ok. I hope Lucas gets better, Soph."

"Me too."

"Call me if-"

"I know. I will."

"Ok. Bye, Sophie."

"Cheerio, Daniel."

"Funny."

"Haha. I couldn't resist."

"As long as it made you laugh, that's all that matters."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"No, Daniel. I mean it. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now, go see your family."

"Bye."

"Bye."