Two more things happened that day. The first was that Ella called.
Grandpa came in with the phone.
“Are you awake?” he asked quietly.
“Mmmm,” Dani managed.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t home,” Ella cried on the phone. “Miranda and I were with the Avocado in Linkoping!”
The Avocado is Ella’s real father.
She has an extra father called Paddy, and she has her real father who she sometimes sees. He’s a human rights advocate, but Ella always calls him Avocado.
“Can you hear me, Dani?” she continued.
“Mm-mm,” mumbled Dani.
“What did you say? Speak properly! You’re not dying, are you?” Ella sounded worried.
No, Dani wanted to say. Tomorrow I’m going to eat a cheese and tomato sandwich.
And I’m not going to die, she wanted to say.
Next time we’re together I’m going to put on a treasure hunt for you, she wanted to say. Everything’s already done.
But all she got out was another: “Mmmm.”
Grandpa had to take the phone and explain.
But strangely enough Dani felt a little better after that. She only had to hear Ella’s voice on the phone.
Or was it the medicine that had started working? At last she noticed her hamsters, who were waiting for her to talk to them.
Didn’t I tell you I’d be home soon, she wanted to say.