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TONI Margaret . Every time I thought about it or felt like doing it , I thought about her and all she had to say . The world spins a little slower when we die . And it ’ s true . Every time I thought about escaping to the absence of life , I thought about my family and friends . My mom would never stop blaming herself for my death if I went through with it . It really hurt when I thought about my parents crying as they tried to pick out the clothes I would wear at my funeral . Especially because I knew they would pick something ugly . And my friends- some had suffered enough loss already and I didn ’ t need to add to that . I needed to be there to live with them , and go on midnight drives , and watch trashy movies just to make fun of them and be there when they graduate . And I guarantee that ’ s what you want , Vera . You don ' t want to miss any of those latenight phone calls or moments of triumph when you know you ’ ve beat the odds . You want to be there to see a day where there ’ s good in the world and you love yourself .
( A pause .) And it was hard . It is hard . But … someday you ’ ll find the truth .
Did you ever meet Margaret again ?
VERA
TONI I didn ' t . I sometimes wish that I would ' ve called just to talk to her or run into her again at Sally ’ s , but I moved away and got busy with my life .
Oh …
VERA
( checking the time ) I ’ d better be going . My mom wants me home before 6:00 .
( VERA stands and starts to exit , but TONI reaches out to stop her .)
Hey , let me give you my business card .
TONI
( TONI scribbles something down on the back of the card .)
I ’ ve written my home number on the back . If you need anything , night or day , you call me , okay ?
( With a small smile .)
VERA
Yeah , okay .