Torn
by: Rhiannon
Stevie stood motionless in the hallway. She had been listening as the fight
had unfolded in the bedroom just a few feet away from her. Stevie had jumped
when Abbey had slammed the door on her husband.
They were fighting about her ... about her HIV. It was just like all the
other times. She was causing people problems. She bit her lip for a long
moment, unsure as to what to do. Then, she came to a decision and ran to her
own bedroom.
She shut the door and locked it as soon as she was inside the safety of her
room. She made a beeline for the telephone, "Hi, could you get me the number
of American Airlines, please? Oh, you can? Would you, please? Thank you."
Fifteen minutes later, Stevie hung up the phone. She stared at it for a long
moment, weighing her options. Finally, she picked up the phone once again,
this time dialing a number that was very familiar to her.
"Hello?" came a sleepy voice at the other end of the phone.
"Mark?" Stevie asked. "Mark, it's Stephanie."
In Dallas, Texas, Mark Tanner sat straight up in bed, "Stephanie, what's
wrong?"
"Can I come back?" Stevie asked, ignoring his inquiry.
"Not until you tell me what's wrong." Mark replied. "Come on, Stephanie..."
"There's going to be problems for Jed and Abbey Bartlet if they adopt me,
Mark ... Some people are already bringing up my HIV and Jed and Abbey fought
a few minutes ago, Mark." Stevie said quickly. "They fought because of me ...
of my HIV."
"Stephanie, listen to me-"
"Mark, it's just like all the other times." Stevie said quietly. "Please, I
wanna come back ... please let me."
Mark sighed, "Okay, Stephanie ... When can you come?"
"I leave Washington in about two hours, actually." Stevie replied.
"Okay, Lisa and I will meet you at the airport ... Stephanie?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I am."
"Okay, we'll be waiting for you." Mark replied, hanging up the phone.
Stevie stared at the phone for a moment longer, then jumped up and began to
pack her suitcase.
TBC...