beth
By gothamwanes
The person you are trying to reach is currently available.
Please leave a message after the beep.
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01.
Hi, Beth. It’s Caroline.
The apartment’s been real quiet ever since you left. I guess Nady has no one left to bicker with. She’s angry, Beth—not in the way she usually is—but you know, that tight, smoldering anger?
In some way, we all feel like that.
I—I didn’t know what to think after you left. After all those things you said. I don’t think you meant it, most of what you yelled at us. I refuse to believe you’re that type of person. But you are the type of person to keep everything away from everyone. I want to think that we were closer than that.
So please, wherever you’re listening to this, I want to let you know I’m here.
I love you, Beth. I do. Please stay safe.
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02.
Hey, Beth?
Fuck you.
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03.
Hey, Beth, it’s Eli. I—I know we haven’t really talked lately, but Nadya told me about what happened. Or actually, she mumbled-yelled-hissed something and then told me to ask Caroline. Which I did. So I guess Caroline told me, I suppose--
Anyway, sorry, trailing off again, like I always do. I don’t really know what to say honestly. Hi? How are you? How’s life been?
I’m not really the best at this, am I?
Just, look—last September, I came to you for help, and now I’m offering you the same. I’m here for whatever you need. I might not understand what’s been going on with you lately, but I’ll listen, okay?
Alright, that’s all I wanted to say. I need to get back to down to the medical office at Hendrix, I have an internship with one of the doctors, and I should probably go before the answering machine cuts me o--
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04.
Hello, Beth, it’s Dr. Manning. Your prescription’s ready for pick up at the clinic down at Hendrix. If you want to schedule any additional appointments this week, you can call me at this same number, or call up one of my interns.
I’ll be available Thursday evening and Friday afternoon if you need me. Thanks again.
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05 (redux).
Look, I’m just gonna go ahead and say Caro told me to send you another message. “Kindness” and “second chances” and “everyone deserves to be heard.” Always spewing some righteous bullshit. You know how she can be.
But I don’t think I have enough energy in me for another chance. Or a third or a fourth. Look, I’ve lied, I’ve stolen, I’ve done a lotta shit to help you. And God, I don’t ask for anything in return because we’ve been together for so long. You and me, we get each other.
The things you said though—you knew those would hurt. I fucking hate that you know me that well.
The thing is, I know you that well too. I know you well enough to know you aren’t coming back. Not this time, not ever. You’re not the one to lay down your mistakes. You run away. You fucking fly off the Earth into God knows where.
And you know what?
I’m glad.
Have a nice rest of your life, Beth. I won’t be part of it.
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.
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You have five unheard messages.
―all messages deleted.
The person you are trying to reach is currently available.
Please leave a message after the beep.
.
.
.
01.
Hi, Beth. It’s Caroline.
The apartment’s been real quiet ever since you left. I guess Nady has no one left to bicker with. She’s angry, Beth—not in the way she usually is—but you know, that tight, smoldering anger?
In some way, we all feel like that.
I—I didn’t know what to think after you left. After all those things you said. I don’t think you meant it, most of what you yelled at us. I refuse to believe you’re that type of person. But you are the type of person to keep everything away from everyone. I want to think that we were closer than that.
So please, wherever you’re listening to this, I want to let you know I’m here.
I love you, Beth. I do. Please stay safe.
.
.
.
02.
Hey, Beth?
Fuck you.
.
.
.
03.
Hey, Beth, it’s Eli. I—I know we haven’t really talked lately, but Nadya told me about what happened. Or actually, she mumbled-yelled-hissed something and then told me to ask Caroline. Which I did. So I guess Caroline told me, I suppose--
Anyway, sorry, trailing off again, like I always do. I don’t really know what to say honestly. Hi? How are you? How’s life been?
I’m not really the best at this, am I?
Just, look—last September, I came to you for help, and now I’m offering you the same. I’m here for whatever you need. I might not understand what’s been going on with you lately, but I’ll listen, okay?
Alright, that’s all I wanted to say. I need to get back to down to the medical office at Hendrix, I have an internship with one of the doctors, and I should probably go before the answering machine cuts me o--
.
.
.
04.
Hello, Beth, it’s Dr. Manning. Your prescription’s ready for pick up at the clinic down at Hendrix. If you want to schedule any additional appointments this week, you can call me at this same number, or call up one of my interns.
I’ll be available Thursday evening and Friday afternoon if you need me. Thanks again.
.
.
.
05 (redux).
Look, I’m just gonna go ahead and say Caro told me to send you another message. “Kindness” and “second chances” and “everyone deserves to be heard.” Always spewing some righteous bullshit. You know how she can be.
But I don’t think I have enough energy in me for another chance. Or a third or a fourth. Look, I’ve lied, I’ve stolen, I’ve done a lotta shit to help you. And God, I don’t ask for anything in return because we’ve been together for so long. You and me, we get each other.
The things you said though—you knew those would hurt. I fucking hate that you know me that well.
The thing is, I know you that well too. I know you well enough to know you aren’t coming back. Not this time, not ever. You’re not the one to lay down your mistakes. You run away. You fucking fly off the Earth into God knows where.
And you know what?
I’m glad.
Have a nice rest of your life, Beth. I won’t be part of it.
.
.
.
You have five unheard messages.
―all messages deleted.