Page 125 of Summer Breakdown
Jasmine: how are you?
Ezra: good
Ezra: tired, but I don’t think I’ll sleep, patterns all fucked
Jasmine: try and get a few hours – you’re a grouch when you’re tired
Ezra: yeah
Jasmine: are you at yours?
Ezra: yeah
Jasmine: I put some energy shots in your fridge last night
Jasmine:and some lasagna
Jasmine: remember to eat if you won’t sleep
Ezra: thanks
Ezra: go to sleep
Ezra: text me in the morning
Jasmine: night
Jasmine: 12:03 green
“Thanks,” she says, handing her the phone back like having almost military-precision texts with Ezra is a normal thing.
“I’m sorry,” Frankie replies. “For making you do all that.”
Jasmine spins, frowning at her. “It’s not an issue.”
Frankie pulls on her lip. “It’s not normal.”
“So? Nor is trying to sue your landlord because they won’t fix the lift,” Jasmine says. “Nor is looking for a new car because Lani’s wheelchair barely fits in your boot. Nor is researching teenager anxiety because Marcel looked nervous a few weeks ago.”
“I don’t want to make your life harder,” Frankie says.
“It’s not hard. It’s different. Does Lani make your life harder?”
“What?” Frankie asks, her eyes wide. “No, of course not.”
“So, why would you make it hard?”
Frankie huffs out a laugh. Jasmine is ridiculous. Like she’s not here, knackered, half-asleep, and pretending Frankie isn’t a strain on her life.
“Chances are you’ll have another episode,” Jasmine says, “if you’re in my life as long as I hope you are. I want to be ready. Bipolar is something you are. We can’t change it. So,we’ll change the things we can. I want to know what to do to make it easier. We need—“ Her entire face drops.
Frankie rests her palm against her jaw.
“What? Sweetheart, what is it?”
“We need to find a way for you to tell me,” she says, with a choked cry. God, she looks so sad. Frankie might never get up again. “Because I can’t do that again. Not talking to me is fine, and if I know the warning signs, I’ll probably get it before you, but I can’t do you telling me you don’t love me. I can’t do that again.”
Frankie kisses her forehead. “I’m so sorry.”
