"What happened? Was there a leak? Did everything get wrecked? The floor looks fine but-"

"There's no leak Amie," says Bina, trying not to sound weird and not quite managing it. "I needed you to come home really fast and that was the best way I could think of."

"What? That - why?" asks Amie, her voice hovering on the edge of annoyed and confused. "Seriously? I was in class Bina!"

"I know, I'm sorry," says Bina.

The obvious thought occurs to Amie. "Oh gosh, is everyone OK? Is my Mom OK? Are you OK? You don't look OK."

"I'm fine," lies Bina.



"You look like you got hit by a truck!"

"I'm not that bad," says Bina, unable to stop getting a little off script.

"Is that a cane?"

"You know, let's just - let's table that for a second," sighs Bina, gesturing to the couch. "Come sit down."

"Aaand now you're scaring me," says Amie. "Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

"I am at work."

"What?"

"It's complicated, please come sit down."