Sitting up against her headboard, her teddy bear clutched against her chest, Grace stared at her closet doors and white dresser.
   It was at times like this that she missed Emma terribly. Not to say that she didn't miss Emma, she just seemed to miss her more when she needed someone to talk to. Confide in. Find hope in.
   "Grace?" Her mom called up, and from the distant sounding, Grace judged her to be at the foot of the stairs. "Phone!"
   Looking to her left, she debated about actually picking it up. Groaning, and shutting her mind off, Grace grabbed it. "Got it!" She yelled back down to her mom, then put the device up to her ear. "Hello?"
   "You're talking!"
   The shocked voice made her smile, and sit up. "Hi, Zac."
   "And you remember me too!"
   "I remember you, Zac." She responded grinning.
   "You remember what it's like leaving the house too?" He teased. "You know, when you go out the door, get into a car, and go someplace fun?"
   Grace laughed again, "Vaguely, but yeah."
   "Want to try that tonight?"
   She lost her humor, "No, not tonight, Zac."
   He turned solemn as well. "Then when, Grace?" He asked tiredly. "When I'm gone?"
   "I love you, Zac." She murmured, "You have to know that. But right now I…" she sighed in aggravation. "I just… can't right now."
   She heard him sigh as well, "When Grace? What's the time limit? So that I'll know what to do."
   "I don't know, Zac!" Grace cried out angrily. "I don't! I'm sorry, but I just don't know."
   When he didn't reply, Grace nervously twisted the chord around her finger. "Zac?" She called softly. "You still there."
   She heard him sigh again, and he sounded so tired and wary. "That's the trouble, Grace. I am here, and you're not, and you don't know when you will be. Or even if you ever will be again."
   "Zac, I-" but he cut her off, "Call me when you know, Grace. And maybe I'll still be here when you do get around to it."
   The dial tone rankled.
   Slowly, Grace hung up her own phone as well and leaned back up against her headboard. What a mess she was making of everything.
   "Grace?" Her mom called again. "Phone again!"
   Sitting up once more, Grace grabbed for the phone greedily. "Zac, I'm so sorry!" She explained in a rush.
   "Miss James?"
   The cool tone jerked Grace's speeding mind to a sudden halt. "Who is this?"
   "Miss James, this is Waylon Brubaker."
   She swallowed hard, "Of course, Bru. I'm sorry for that outburst." She cleared her throat as he assured her it was no problem. "What is it you called for?"
   "The test results are in, Miss James. They will be delivered here tomorrow, so if you would come in around noon, I will read off the results to you and the Hanson's."
   Nodding, Grace tried not to relay her disappointment. "I'll be there, Bru. Thanks for calling."
   They exchanged their polite niceties before awkwardly saying goodbye and hanging up.
   Sitting back again, Grace rubbed at her forehead, and tried to relieve the building pressure on her brain.