All language subtitles for 9-1-1.s02e05.720p

Right in here.

Thanks, guys.

My leg, my leg.

I think it's broken.

- My God, where did you come from?
- Sherman Oaks.

No.

No, I-I mean, are you okay?

You just hit me with your car!
Of course I'm not okay.

That's a really,
really nice car.

Is that a custom paint job?

Really hurts
when I move my head.

Is that normal?

LAFD. Step aside, please.

I didn't know what to do.

I was afraid to move the car.

You did the right thing.
We'll take it

- from here.
- Do any of you have a pen?

I've got
a partial license plate.

Somebody should write it down.

EDDIE Don't worry
about the license plate, ma'am.

- It's right here on the back of the car.
- Not this car.

The car that hit me.

Wait, this isn't
the car that hit you?

No, this is the car
that ran me over.

Better be insured.

Let's just focus on getting you
out of here first, ma'am.

BUCK I think there's enough
room. We can slide a backboard

under here
and pull her out that way.

- Okay, c-can you tell me your name?
- Lorraine.

Hey, wait. Don't we know you?

LORRAINE No, I don't...
I don't, I don't think so.

Last year, Hancock Park.

That's right.
I never forget a femur.

It's the damned Porch Pirate.

Guess you moved up from porches
to parking lots, Lorraine?

What's your scam?

I don't know
what you are talking about.

I went to my court-mandated
treatment. I'm completely cured.

Haven't stole a package
in months.

I heard you settled
with that homeowner.

The house she fell in front of
when she was package stealing?

I didn't realize you could
sue someone for being injured

during the commission
of a felony.

Pled down to a misdemeanor.

Insurance companies
are happy to settle

instead of going to court.

Insurance companies
are less happy about fraud.

And I got three witnesses
who claim

you intentionally stepped out
behind that poor woman's car.

Makes me wonder
what I might find

when I pull the security footage
from this parking lot.

I think you'll find

a woman suffering
with mobility issues.

Lot of trouble walking
since that fall on the steps.

You know, I wonder

if it's because I received
improper care on the scene.

So you're gonna sue us now?

You folks are city employees.

Probably don't make that much.

But the city...

There's probably
some deep pockets there,

don't you think?

Awful woman.

Isn't it your job to help?

I mean, are you even listening
to what I'm saying?

I gave you the address.
What else do you need?

Okay, ma'am,
if you could just calm down

and give me some information.

Are you deaf? You keep asking

the same stupid questions,
and I keep telling you

- I don't know.
- Does he have a pulse?

I'm not touching him, lady.

Do you know where
he's been injured?

- I need a damn ambulance!
- Okay.

The ambulance is on the way.
If you could just tell me...

WOMAN Why didn't you say that,
you stupid bitch?

Wasting my time.

This'll make you feel better.

Delicious and Paleo.

You made Paleo muffins?

I can barely make lunch.
Although I should start,

'cause Jim in the food truck
is getting the wrong idea.

So, what's your secret?

Dee's Bakery on Larchmont,
but don't tell anyone.

Bad call?

Bad day.

It's like the whole city's
in a mood.

That's every day, honey.

There are over 200 languages

spoken in the city
of Los Angeles,

and I've been cursed out
in every single one of them.

It's not like I've never
been yelled at before.

I mean,
I worked in an ER, but...

it just felt different somehow.

You know, maybe it's
because I could see them.

I could see that they
were scared or in pain,

that they didn't mean
to be so...

Awful?

Does it ever get to you?

I've been doing this
for 20 years.

At some point,
it gets to everyone.

My Stan always used to say,

"Can't bring those people home
with you, Gloria.

They'll wear you down."

I never realized
how right he was

until after he was gone.

I-I'm sorry.

I'm told he's
in a better place now.

But the thing I learned

is that there's no controlling
someone else's behavior.

But how you react to it,
that's on you.

No, it's just hard not
to take it personally sometimes.

You said you felt different

when you could see
their faces, right?

Maybe that's what you need.

How? I mean, the system isn't
exactly set up for FaceTime.

- Go on a ride-along.
- In a police car?

It should be part
of your training, anyway.

You've heard them on the phone,

and you've been there when
they were wheeled into the ER.

Now get out and see
what happens in between.

Well, time to save the world.

- Josh.
- Morning, Gloria.

Wow, she really
has it all figured out.

She's this place's Céline Dion.

No bull. Just here every day,

getting on that stage
and giving it her all.

- 911. What is your emergency?
- WOMAN Help, please.

My boyfriend's bleeding.
He shot himself

- with one of those nail guns.
- What's your location?

- 9534 Sycamore. Mount Washington.
- Help is on the way.

Do you have a clean cloth
you can apply to the wound?

911. What is your emergency?

MAN Hi. Yeah, I-I think
someone is breaking in

tka.

No. I-I heard some glass break.

So you're calling because
you heard glass breaking?

What? No. Well, I mean...

I don't know.
My neighbors are in Florida.

Can you please just send someone
to check it out?

I'd say the real crime is being
in Florida at this time of year.

Try calling a window repairman.

911. What's your emergency?

MAN 2 I'm sitting in a coffee
shop, and this guy just ran up,

grabbed my brand-new bike
and took off.

- Did he break your legs first?
- What? No. What?

Go chase him and get it back.

How long ago did the pain start?

It's probably gas.

CPR? No, I wouldn't bother.

Well, maybe you should have made
better life choices.

Sir, I think this amount
of crying

is a little over the top
and unproductive,

don't you think?

If you were
really going to jump,

I doubt you'd be calling me.

Gloria, I think you've earned
yourself an extra muffin.

Right there.

- Athena Grant?
- One and only.

- Hi, I'm...
- Maddie Kendall.

New dispatcher here
for your ride-along.

You requested me.

No one ever requests me.

We have someone in common.
Kendall's my married name.

I actually used to be
Maddie Buckley.

I am again.

Buckley. You're Buck's sister.

Yeah, ER nurse from Philly.

Hershey. How did you know that?

Bobby... Captain Nash...

Said that Buck had a sister
who was new to town.

Your brother's boss is my boo.

Yeah.

Your brother and I
got off on the wrong foot,

but, he's grown on me.

Kid's got a heart of gold.

So, I don't have to call you
Buck-ette or anything, do I?

No, Maddie is fine.

So, how you liking it
so far? L.A.

Well, the traffic
has exceeded my expectations,

and I experienced
my first earthquake.

A 7.1, girl.

You're an official Angeleno now.

So, you don't have a partner?

Field sergeant.

I go where I want
or where I'm needed.

I feel like that's what
I'm doing, too.

Or, at least, I hope it is.

Was it bad?

You said your married name
was Kendall. You come here

to start over?

It was awful.

But I'm not ashamed
to talk about it.

I mean, I was.

Now I realize how strong I am
for getting out.

The day that every woman
in the world

realizes how strong
she really is

is the day
that will bring peace on Earth.

All Wilshire Division units.

Please respond to a 415 group
at Parkview Cemetery.

Request supervisor on scene.

727-L-30. En route.

415. Disturbance?

Yeah. My guess,

another military funeral
protest.

What kind of people would
protest a military funeral?

Burn in hell will be your fate!

Two, four, six, eight,
burn in hell will be your fate!

Two, four, six, eight,

- burn in hell will be your fate!
- Why don't you have some respect?

God is not a respecter
of perverts!

- Yeah, well, you're not God, are you?
- No, and neither are you.

- You should be ashamed of yourselves!
- I'm not ashamed!

- Take all of yourselves home.
- You... No, you can go home.

PROTESTORS Burn in hell
will be your fate!

Two, four, six, eight,
burn in hell will be your fate!

Two, four, six, eight,

burn in hell will be your fate!

Two, four, six, eight,
burn in hell will be your fate!

- Hey, should I stay in the car?
- Yeah, stay there.

Coming through. Coming through.

Coming thr... coming through.

Coming through.

Two, four, six, eight...

Officer, can you please,
please do something about this?

My-my sister's trying
to bury her son.

I understand. And I'm
very sorry for your loss,

- but my best advice is just to ignore them.
- Are you kidding me?

They've got bullhorns.

This is a funeral.

Do you see
those disgusting signs?

I see 'em, but as long
as they stay behind that fence,

it's their
constitutionally protected right

- to stand there and be awful.
- My nephew

volunteered to serve
because he believed

in protecting the freedom
that gives these...

these idiots the right
to spew their filth.

I'll do what I can.

Two, four, six, eight,
burn in hell will be your fate!

Okay, sir, you need to stay
behind the fence.

Or what?

Or your next stop
will be county jail.

Where your black brothers
have been duly incarcerated.

Back it up.
I'm not gonna tell you again.

Well, can I just back up,
or do I have

to pay repar... ations?

All right, folks, take it back.

Take it behind the fence. Sir...

- Sir? Sir?
- Get your hands off me.

Get 'em off.

727-L-30, requesting R.A. unit
at Parkview Cemetery.

Sergeant Grant.

Captain.
Mr. Personality over here

starting coughing,
grabbed his side and fell over.

Could be appendicitis.
I'm not sure.

- All right, back up.
- Step aside, please.

Sir, I'm just gonna examine you
for a second here.

Okay, we got a colostomy
bag, probably backing up.

You're gonna have to intubate
him. Sir, just try to relax.

These paramedics here
are gonna attend to you.

Hell no.

- You do it.
- BOBBY Sir, I am not a trained paramedic.

I can't intubate you. They can.

I'm fine.

Sir, you're not fine.

Your bowel is
probably obstructed.

The contents
of your colostomy bag

are backing up into your system.

You're about to choke
on your own waste.

You will suffocate and die.

Get... away.

Okay, sir, if you refuse care,

we cannot administer it
by force.

What about him?

"Diaz." Diaz.

- What kind of name is that?
- My father's from Mexico.

My mother's Swedish. I can help
you out with the Swedish half.

But no one told me
which half that is.

Okay, would you like me to call
you another paramedic team

- so you can have an all-white one?
- Yeah.

He's gonna aspirate.

And he's aspirating.

Actual diarrhea of the mouth.

Outstanding.

Okay, guys, let's get to work.

Let me roll him over.

- Ready, Buck?
- Yeah. -Three, two, one.

I need mechanical suction.

- This isn't cutting it.
- We've got suction on the truck.

- Let's get him on the gurney. Let's go.
- Keep him on his side.

- Let's go.
- We'll bring the gurney on the other side.

One, two, three, go.

Well done.

Right, your ride-along
was today. Cap,

- this is my sister Maddie.
- Great to finally meet you.

Yeah, you, too. I've heard
nothing but wonderful things

- about you.
- Well, don't believe everything

- your little brother tells you.
- I meant from her.

Well, the feeling is mutual.

She's something. She never
lets anything get to her.

Get to me?
Do you know how many times

in a given day somebody's got
the opportunity to get to me?

If I start
letting them get to me,

I wouldn't make it
past breakfast.

Which reminds me, we should eat.

Eat? You want to eat after that?

It's lunchtime.

So, you like her?

Abby? Sure.

You don't approve?
Is it the age difference?

More like the time difference.
Part of me is impressed.

It's the longest relationship
my little brother's ever had.

- And the other part?
- Can't help but notice

she hasn't been here
for most of it.

Whoa.

That's weird.

- Hang tight for a second.
- Yeah.

Police.

Anyone here?

Is anyone here?

Sir, can you hear me?

Sir, can you tell me
what happened?

Robber. Shot.

727-L-30, requesting R.A. units
and additional units

at 12507 Wilshire.

Gunshot wound and apparent 211.

No description of the suspect
at this time.

Copy that. Ten minutes out.

- You said he was talking?
- Yeah, he said a few words,

then he passed out.

Sir? Can you hear me?

Okay, um, I need something
to seal this with.

The-the air is being pulled
into his thoracic cavity

instead of his lungs.

- Plastic wrap?
- Perfect.

Here. Three pieces of tape.

Thanks.

Okay, lost his pulse.
Moving to compressions.

Okay, you know what,
I need the blood

to keep flowing to his heart.
Can you elevate his legs?

You're gonna be okay, sir.

The ambulance is almost here.

How you here?

- They hang up.
- ATHENA Sir?

Who hung up on you?

911.

MADDIE I Still can't
believe it.

Who just hangs up?

I mean, if we hadn't been there,
he would have died.

And you get a gold star

for saving him,
Nurse Nellie Forbush,

but ten demerit points
for jumping to conclusions.

He probably got disconnected.
Spotty cell service

or he hit a wrong button.

It happens.
Sometimes people panic.

Fine.

Do you have the number
he called from?

911. What is your emergency?

Help! A robber. He shot me.

What? What did you say?

Ma Xun Restaurant on Wilshire.

- Please, please help. Send help.
- I can't understand you.

Speak louder or I'm hanging up.

It can't be her.

Shot. Bleeding. Help now.

GLORIA Yelling at me
won't stop the bleeding, okay?

I'm not the one who shot you.

Seriously?

You're switching
to another language now?

That wasn't a mistake.

Gloria hung up on him.

Guys?

Careful! Guys, be easy with her.

She's not a puppy.

Hey, listen...

I am glad that Athena
got someone new.

Okay? No, I am.

Y-You should have heard what
Harry told me the other day.

He says, "Dad, doesn't it seem
weird that you're an architect"

"and Bobby is a firefighter?

"I mean, you're there
when the buildings go up,

but he's there when it burns
down to the ground."

KAREN Wow.

Symbolism much?

Hey, you know,
Bobby is a good man,

and I think that's what makes it
a little bit harder.

I mean, he has this
natural paternal quality.

Well, listen,

you don't need to worry.

'Cause you are those babies'
father, and they know it.

And anything they get from him
is just extra.

Yeah, that's right.

Well, he's amazing.
What's his name?

She's a she. Paisley.

My mama rescued her.

I bet she did.

Um, where's your dog?

Son of a bitch.

Boys, boys. Let's go, let's go.

Hey, guys, come on.
Who wants some food?

You evil...

Excuse me?

What did you say to him?

You mean did I tell him
I was his real mother?

- Not yet.
- You're not his real mother.

You signed away all rights
to him the day he was born.

You're right, I signed away
all my parental rights.

But he didn't.

Who the hell is he?

That's Nathaniel.

That's Denny's
biological father.

He didn't even know
he had a kid.

You told me you didn't know
who the father was.

I lied.

- You're lying now.
- Am I?

We'll find out.

I'll see you in court.

Hi. Now's not a good time.

Why don't you
take a longer lunch?

What?

Are they reprimanding her
for hanging up?

- Good.
- No.

They're firing her for hang-ups.

Yeah, plural. Hundreds,

maybe thousands,
going back eight months.

- Eight months?!
- That last part makes sense.

She went a little squirrelly
after the divorce.

I thought her husband was dead.

She only wishes he were.

She's probably facing
criminal charges.

There's precedent.

911 dispatcher
in Houston got 18 months

for interfering
with emergency calls.

You! You traitor!

- Talk later.
- I was nice to you, I helped you.

I showed you where
we hide the good coffee pods,

and you betrayed me.

They want to put me in jail
because of what you said!

You hung up on people
on purpose.

Awful people!

People who yell
and scream and cry

and expect you
to do something for them.

I mean, and do they ever say,
"How are you?" Do they ever ask,

"How are you doing, Gloria?"

Do they ever think
of anything but themselves

and what they need? No!

You give them everything
you have, and then

they leave you for your sister!
You know, Maddie,

- I'm...
- Ma'am, it's time to go.

This... You can't just
toss me into the trash!

I won "Outstanding Dispatcher"
eight times.

I took more calls than anyone.

Half of them were
under 45 seconds.

This isn't over, Maddie!

Just mark my words.
Snitches get stitches!

KAREN But what does that
mean for us?

What rights does that give him?

Here. Little man,
take Paisley to your room.

Look... Hen just walked in.

Okay.

Thanks, Mark.

Never a good sign hearing from
your lawyer after office hours.

Well, the lab report came back.

Nathaniel Green is Denny's
biological father.

What does that mean?

It means... he has rights.

It means he could try
to take our son away from us.

- What does Mark say?
- That we're screwed.

I mean, he used
more lawyerly words.

Our case is
more "challenging" now.

And, "The court will have to"

"balance the interests
of the child

against the birth mother's
fraudulent acts."

Let me talk to Athena.

There's got to be more
to this guy's story.

Maybe she can do some digging,

find out something
that we can use against him.

All this just because that awful
woman wanted to hurt you.

Why did you bring her back
into our lives?

Karen, listen.

I was stupid.

I was selfish.

I was weak.

And I'm sorry.
I'm so... so very sorry.

I know you're sorry...

and you never meant
for any of this to happen.

I know that in my head,

but the rest of me...

is having a really hard time.

Mama?

Mama sounded mad.

Yeah, Mommy just got
some bad news tonight.

She's just upset.

She was really mad at the park
when I talked to that lady.

Is she mad at me?

Not even a little bit.

Mommy and I love you more
than anything.

Can you fix the bad thing
like you fix people at work?

Yeah.

Don't you worry, little man.

Mama's gonna fix everything.

So she hangs up on a thousand
people, and it's your fault

- she got fired?
- Not just fired.

The LAPD has launched
an investigation.

She could go to jail,
which I guess is also my fault,

because I violated a code
when I reported her.

I don't even know
what that means.

Like, a 911 dispatcher code?

They say
cops have that blue line.

Yeah, well, I wear maroon.

Anyway, she just kept texting
and calling,

so I had to shut my phone off.

Guess who? Looks like
Gloria's not done yelling at me.

Want me to talk to her?

No, I just want
to ignore her completely,

and she'll go away eventually,
I hope.

I can't smash
another cell phone.

Hey.

Hey. Um...

I'm sorry about before.

This isn't your fault.

I'm just scared.

Babe?

Yeah, I'm...

I'm scared, too.

Where are you?

HEN Just out for a drive.
I need to clear my head.

All I feel is rage,

just boiling over in me.

Just come home, babe.

I love you.

I love you, too.

Eva?

Eva!

Open up the damn door!
I know you're in there.

Eva!

Eva?!

Damn it.

That's it.

That's good.
Okay, sit up for me.

Lean against the wall there.

Okay. Okay. Okay.

No.

What the hell is she doing here?

She called it in.

Saved your life.

That's because she loves me.

I don't even hate you, Eva.

I feel nothing for you.

Then why were you here?

I called your parole officer.

He'll meet you at the hospital.

Good luck in prison.

You saved me, Hen!

I save awful people every day.
It's my job.

ATHENA Sergeant Grant.
You're the called it in?

I saw the bulletin
you guys sent out

about your robbery suspect.

Patient just came in.
White man in his 20s

with untreated burns
and a sketchy demeanor.

Yeah. Victim threw hot oil
in his face.

I thought he might
seek medical treatment.

This one said
he did it grilling,

but the burn pattern's
all wrong.

Plus, the wounds are more
than a day old.

He's got a massive infection

and keeps screaming
about the pain.

Well, let's see
if we can't give him something

to take his mind off that.

Mr. Davis, can I come in?

727-L-30 requesting R.A. unit
at Carthay Urgent Care,

2952 Carlson Avenue.

I have an unconscious suspect
in need of medical attention.

- You got him?
- -ATHENA Yeah.

Owner got him good
with that hot oil.

Burns were like a scarlet
letter all over his face,

except the "A"
didn't stand for "adulterer"

in this particular case.

What about the restaurant owner?

- Out of ICU and on the mend.
- Amazing.

- Hey, thanks for letting me ride shotgun with you.
- Sure.

Nothing like some blood and bile
and bullets to help you see

how special it is what you do
on that phone every day.

MADDIE First of all, I'm pretty
sure that wasn't bile.

And second, it wasn't just
the calls that we answered,

it was you.

I mean, now if I have
a moment of doubt,

I can just say,
"What would Athena do?"

You're too kind.

I guess those golden hearts
run in the Buckley family.

- Take care, Buck-ette.
- You, too, Sergeant.

Hello.

Maddie.

Glad I finally got you.

Stop calling me.

Stop texting me.

Leave me alone.

GLORIA But I have so much
free time now.

I could call you all day.

MADDIE I mean,
what do you want from me?

Do you want me to say
that I'm sorry

for turning you in
for almost killing a man?

- I'm not.
- I tried to teach you something important.

Here's a little something
I learned.

This call is being recorded.

I think I might be having
an actual emergency.

Unbelievable.
How did you even...?

Get transferred to you directly?

This is Officer Donnelly.

513-Mary-12.
Responding to a 207.

I've got an 11-58 and need to
keep off the airwaves.

Can you patch me through
to my dispatcher?

Who is Officer Donnelly?

I made her up.

Because I know the system,
Maddie.

Until yesterday,
I was the system.

But you took that from me.

Ma'am, it is against the law

to call 911 for non-emergencies.

It's also a crime to impersonate
a police officer.

I'm afraid I'm going to have
to report this.

Don't you dare "ma'am" me
or tell me about the law.

Your whole generation is nothing

but a bunch of lazy ingrates.

You have no clue
what it's like...

Gloria?

What just happened? Gloria?

Maddie?

Are you still there?

I think I was in an accident.

I-I'm here. Where are you?

I can't get out.

I can't get out.

I'm stuck.

Why can't I hear you?

- Gloria, I'm here.
- Did you hang up?

- I'm here. I don't think she can hear me.
- God, I hope you didn't hang up.

- The airbags probably deployed.
- GLORIA I mean...

She wouldn't be able
to hear anything.

GLORIA It's definitely
what I would have done,

- but I hope you didn't do it.
- Okay, so we'll

have to do this the hard way.

Cell tower is giving me
this radius,

but I don't see any reports
in the area.

Okay, here.

I have to call someone.

But I lost my phone.

Air Support, I need assistance

getting a visual on a vehicle.

I really wish you were
still on the line.

I wouldn't blame you
if you hung up on me.

That's what I would have done.

I don't know why. That's a lie.

I do know why.

Dead-end calls.

Not sure if you've had one yet,

but it's when
you can hear everything

that's happening on
the other end of the line,

and you know

there's not gonna be anything
that you can do.

Except sit there and listen
to someone die.

It happened to me.

Stan had served me with papers
that morning, and I,

and I got a call from this girl.

She was hiding under
a desk because...

a client came in with a gun.

I could hear the shots... one,

then another.

Getting closer.

I knew what was coming, so I...

I just, I...

I hung up.

And I-I felt so relieved.

She wasn't my problem anymore.

After that,
nothing was my problem.

Until you.

You're gonna be okay, Gloria.

Since I'm making my peace, I...

I don't know if I should...

apologize to you or...

or forgive you,
but I should do more...

You didn't hang up.

You didn't.

No.

- You're here.
- I'm still here.

ATHENA He's a straight arrow.

Owns his own home.

Stable job.

Manager at Home Depot.

Employee of the month
three times.

Yeah, good credit.

And he counsels at-risk kids
on the weekends.

You got to be joking me.

How are we gonna win
against this guy?

He's freaking perfect.

He wasn't always.

Seven years ago, he was a mess.

He started drinking after
his wife died of ovarian cancer.

Series of DUls landed him
in rehab.

Where he met Eva.

I-I still... I can't believe
she's doing this.

That she could hate me so much.

Eva isn't your problem anymore.

She broke her parole. Hard.

She's going back inside.

I had this moment, 'Thena,
I was standing over her.

And I thought about just...
not helping her.

I almost let her die.

Does that make me
an awful person?

It makes you a human being.

A good one.

Because despite everything
that she put you through,

you still saved her
ungrateful ass.

And now this...

this man can come
and take my son.

My wife will not forever
forgive me for that.

Stop. Enough of that.

No one's taking Denny.

All right?
This isn't about that.

All he wants is visitation.

Yeah, he has a case,
but so do you and Karen.

You love that boy.

And anyone who spends five
minutes with you can see that.

This Nathaniel Green will, too.

But will he care?

You got to have faith.

Yeah, people can be awful.

Selfish and cruel.

Caring only about themselves
and what they want and need.

Never thinking about
who they hurt,

or what kind of damage they
might leave in their wake.

Good, you're conscious.

Just need to have a few words
with you.

- What?
- First up,

you have the right
to remain silent.

BOBBY Gloria? Gloria, my name
is Bobby. We're here to help.

- Okay. Yeah.
- Okay, just try to stay calm.

- You're gonna be all right.
- Okay.

Okay? We're gonna cut you
out of there.

But not everyone is awful.

There's some good ones
out there, too.

The kind who want to do
the right thing.

Maddie, good work.

Gloria said
some pretty awful things.

I'm glad you didn't let it
get to you.

That's the job, right?

If I let everyone get to me,

I wouldn't make it
past breakfast.

ATHENA But you'll never know
which kind of person someone is

unless you give them
a chance to show you.

NATHANIEL I can tell
Denny has a good life here.

And I don't want to harm that
in any way.

You're his parents.

You tell me what's best for him
and I'll follow your lead.

Maybe they'll surprise you...

in the best way.

Okay, everybody, let's eat.

Hen. How'd it go?

Good.

Great.

I think it's gonna be okay.

Yes, Athena.

You were right.

She usually is.

In fact, I find it best
just not to argue with her.

Our lives are shaped,

not just by our experiences,

but by relationships.

Who we love.

Who loves us.

And the stronger those ties are,

the less awful
everything else seems.