"Can you tell me your name and date of birth?" Dr. Abayon asks, keeping her voice gentle.
Via nods. "Olivia Rose Foley. May 19, 1999." She strains out. Dr. Abayon's smile grew, pleased with Via's correct answer.
"Very nice. Also, can you tell me your age?"
Via doesn't waste a second; she fires back as if she is proud to have the answer, like a kid in school having the correct answer to a pop quiz question.
"I'm twenty-four!"
Dr. Abayon softly nods, encouraging Via that she did well.
"Yes, wonderful. Now, can you tell me what year it is?"
With that, Via's features instantly fall. Her face goes almost expressionless as she tries to think. Dr. Abayon doesn't rush her; neither do Ashley or Victoria. They let her think about it for nearly a minute. Her eyes stay on Dr. Abayon for a bit, and then finally, they drop to her hands as she starts fiddling with her fingers. She's holding her hands together in her lapand circling her thumbs around one another like she often does when nervous. She's done it since we were kids.
"2023?" she replies, as a question, not an answer.
Wrong.
Dr. Abayon just nods. Her smile did not falter, assuring not to let it show that Via was incorrect in her answer.
"What month are we in currently?"
Via's confusion grows, and she huffs, clearly frustrated, as if she is struggling for the answer. She looks around the room for the first time, her eyes almost landing on Izzy and me, but they don't. She keeps searching as if the answer is somewhere in this room. She spots the whiteboard behind Dr. Abayon's head that reads the date above her medical plan minus the year. She lets out a soft chuckle, "February 15," She strains out in her little, sexy, raspy voice that she has going for her right now.
I snort, covering my mouth, and turn my head to contain my silent laughter.Fucking cheater. God, I love this woman.
Dr. Abayon chuckles, also noticing what Via has done.
"Yes, So February 15 of which year, again?"
Via beams with pride as she exclaims, "February 15, 2023!" Dr. Abayon doesn't correct her. She flashes a sympathetic smile and reassures her that she did excellent.
What does it mean for us if she thinks it's February of 2023?
Izzy's body wracks with an audible sob next to me, obviously in the same thought that I am. I flash a look at her, one that says, "Calm down, it's okay. Keep quiet," and by the time I look back to Via, her eyes are on us, squinting as if she's straining to see us in our little dark corner against the window, standing behind the wall of bodies standing in front of us.
"Who is that?" Via's wide eyes flash back to Dr. Abayon.
Dr. Abayon looks at us and nods, waving us out of the dark corner they pushed us into.
"You have some visitors who have been pretty worried about you. You must be very loved."
I go to push off the wall, and before I know it, Izzy is sprinting to Via's side.
"Oh my god, fucking finally! Via!" Izzy exclaims, throwing herself on top of Via and pulling her into a hug, forgetting that Via is torn and tattered right now.
"OW!" Via winces, gabbing her chest.
"I'm okay, Iz! You are hurting me."
She giggles with a rasp and forces a smile as she runs her hand through Izzy's hair. Izzy chuckles, and Via's eyes close, soaking in the moment with her lifelong friend. Izzy backs off and pulls her hands to her chest as she stands up straight next to Via's bed, still blocking me.
"Bitch, I was so worried about you." Izzy cries, "I'm so glad you're okay. If you ever scare me like that again, I'll kick your ass." Via laughs as her face cringes in pain at the same time.
"Don't make me laugh, it hurts." Via clenches her chest as she tilts her head back against the bed that is propped up in a sitting position. She shuts her eyes and takes a few deep breaths.
Okay, you've had your turn, Izzy. Move it on over.I need to touch and talk to my girl. I make my way up next to Izzy, and she steps aside. Via's eyes remain closed, and I trace my fingertips down her outer thigh over the blanket.
