Page 7 of How to Survive Your Own Death

“Lights and colors mostly.” The auras were pretty and knowing they were temporary kept them from being alarming. Barely.

Geri demolished the sandwich after the nurse left. “How long was I out?” she asked between bites.

“You were in and out all Sunday night. It’s Monday morning now,” Molly said.

“You’re missing work.”

Molly gave her a look. “You’re more important.”

“The camera. Did I break it?”

“Safe and snug in its bag. Your phone, though, has a wicked crack.”

Geri sighed. Another bill. “It’s probably time to upgrade anyway.”

“Screw that. Getting the screen fixed is much cheaper than a new phone. Since you’re not looking at screens for a few days, I’ll get that taken care of.”

“No, I can’t have you spending your money⁠—”

“My money?” Molly gave a sharp bark of a laugh. “I’m sending the bill to that ratbag.”

Geri almost laughed at the silly word. Once, when she was young and feeling too big for her britches, she called someone a douchebag in front of her mom. That piece of vocabulary earned her a swift swat to said britches and a week without television. No TV was bad, but her mother’s disappointment at such unimaginative crassness was worse. Namecalling was fine as long as Geri and Molly did it with flair.

Thus, the ratbag was born.

“Can I see the ratbag’s video?” Geri knew she shouldn’t but she needed to know. She needed to confirm that Jaxon had done such an awful, thoughtless thing to her.

Molly looked like she would rather destroy her phone than show her the video.

“If you don’t show it to me, I’m just going to watch it on my phone.” Once she found it.

“Fine. The nurse said to limit your screen time, so you only watch it once.”

Molly queued up the video. Geri appeared with Jaxon on the screen. The video was shaky and Jaxon’s voice was far too loud as he shouted at the camera, his arm over her shoulder. Then spiders. Geri jumped in surprise and then she was gone.

Vanished.

Jaxon’s laughter echoed in the hospital room. Geri’s voice was faint but she could clearly hear herself yelling at him that she was hurt. His smile took too long to fall before the video ended.

“That bastard. I can’t believe he posted that,” Geri said. But she could. He wouldn’t care that a prank-gone-wrong made him out to be the villain. Actually, he would because it’d be more likely to go viral.

“It’s down from his socials but you can’t erase something from the internet,” Molly said. “When it’s out there, it’s out there forever.”

“As long as he isn’t getting clicks and likes.” Heaven forbid he get enough views to actually hit the threshold to make money. She rubbed the spot between her brows, head aching.

“Okay, no more screens,” Molly said, taking her phone away. “And no work.”

“I don’t really have a choice about that.” Geri predicted crippling medical debt in her near future and not enough sick days. “I have rent and no sugar mama.”

Molly frowned. She worked for a community legal clinic, which was invaluable work and helped so many people, none of which her salary reflected. Anh made the big bucks working a corporate job for a cosmetic company. Geri didn’t really know what she did but it had a title and the company sent her off to various locations to improve performance. A corporate Sith, Molly once explained.

“Take the week off, please,” she said. “I called your office and talked to Dolores. Is that your boss? They know you’re in the hospital. They can’t fire you.”

“They cannot pay me. I don’t have sick days.” Until this point, her boss had been understanding about doctor appointments and the days she called out due to a migraine. Dolores wouldn’t fire her but she sure as hell wouldn’t pay if she didn’t have the time in the bank.

“Anh and I will help cover your rent.”

“That’s too much. I can’t accept.” It was a very generous offer but Geri already felt like the loser younger sister. Failed marriage. Soulless job. Bad choice of boyfriend. Hemophiliac. Her parents never made her feel like a burden or too fragile to have an ordinary childhood, but the worry had always been there. She’d prefer to avoid adding money to her feelings of inadequacy. “Just help me file for temporary medical leave.”