I raced for the infirmary. As I ran, I asked my companion, "What happened to my sister?"

There was no response and I ran faster. Elphaba, I began thinking. Answer me. Are you okay?

I took a deep breath and sighed with relief when I heard her sarcastic reply, Galinda, I'm in the infirmary. Do you honestly think I'm going to be alright?

At least I know you're safe, I thought back, sending some of my relief toward her.

Galinda, will you calm down? Elphaba thought, angrily to me.

I paused and started walking slowly to the infirmary—Elphaba didn't want to see me.

I heard Elphaba thinking, Galinda, what is taking so long? Seriously, the sooner you get here, the sooner the doctor will leave me alone.

I nodded and thought, But you don't want to see me.

Where in the world did you get that idea?

You yelled at me.

Oh, sorry, Galinda, Elphaba thought. Now hurry up and get here already!

I laughed and ran the rest of the way to the infirmary.

When I arrived, I said, "I'm Galinda Upland. I'm here to see Elphaba Upland."

"Right this way, Miss," one of the nurses said.

I trotted after her and found my sister in a hospital bed, glaring at one of the doctors.

"Elphaba," I began.

The doctor looked at me and asked, "Are you Galinda Upland?"

I nodded, shifting slightly, and discreetly moving toward my younger sister—she was always the strong one-and I thought, Elphaba, what's going on?

She didn't answer and I got really scared.

"Please, don't tell my sister—she's scared enough as it is," Elphaba spoke up.

The doctor led me outside and said, "Something happened to your sister and she won't tell us. We're hoping you can somehow get her to tell you what exactly happened."

I nodded, shaking violently, but I knew Elphaba would not tell me—she always tried to protect me.

Then I saw Madame Morrible and she handed me a note. "Make sure you mail this to your parents," she ordered.

I nodded, getting more freaked out and more worried about Elphaba. "Can I talk to her?" I asked, quickly, needing something to calm down—talking was the only way to calm me down.

The doctor looked at Madame Morrible and they both nodded, in reluctant agreement.

I hurried into the room and whispered, "Elphaba. Elphie, wake up."

Elphaba looked at me and asked, "Elphie? I thought you hated me."

"I do—did," I corrected myself. "It's just that I almost lost you today and I didn't realize how much you mean to me. I was a jerk earlier and I'm sorry and I shouldn't have thought that you were a green bean and I'm sorry and can you possibly ever forgive me? And Elphie's my nickname for you."

"Galinda, first of all, calm down," Elphaba ordered, smiling gently at me. "I do forgive you. It's just that I wanted some alone time. I lost track of time and forgot to come home—I'm sorry I scared you."

I nodded and mumbled, "Wha' happen'?"

Elphaba turned her back to me and I sighed—she didn't want to tell me. "Was it that bad?" I asked, frightened.

Elphaba still didn't answer.

"Elphie," I begged. "Please talk to me."

"Glinny," she began, "I can't tell you what happened. I'm trying to forget it myself. Besides, you might just see it in my dreams."

I shuddered and said, "Jump into my dream instead."

Elphaba rolled her eyes and said, "Oh, joy, I get makeovers in almost all of your dreams, Glinny. I'll pass."

I laughed and asked, "Glinny?"

"My nickname for you, silly," Elphaba said, smiling at me.

Then I said, "ELPHABA UPLAND! DON'T EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, RUN OFF LIKE THAT EVER AGAIN!"

Elphaba smiled and said, "I won't. I promise." I smiled at Elphaba and then decided I really wanted to know what the note said.

I fidgeted with the envelope Madame Morrible had given me and Elphie asked, "What's in the envelope?"

I shrugged and then said, "Elphie, Madame Morrible gave me a note for our parents."

"What does it say?" Elphaba asked.

I shrugged and said, "I dunno. I didn't read it."

"Well, read it, already," Elphaba snapped at me.

I nodded and carefully opened the letter and began reading.

"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Upland. Your younger daughter, Miss Elphaba, disappeared from the Shiz campus earlier this afternoon. I was unaware of her disappearance, until your older daughter, Galinda Upland, informed me of the disagreement they had and how the younger child had disappeared. As soon as I learned of her disappearance, I immediately sent out a group of students in search of Miss Elphaba…" I paused and muttered, "No, she didn't."

"What do you mean, Glinny?" Elphaba asked.

"I told Madame Morrible you were missing, and she just told me to go back to the room," I said, pouting angrily.

I stood up abruptly, threw my hands in the air in frustration and asked, "AM I THE ONLY PERSON HERE WHO ACTUALLY CARES ABOUT YOU, ELPHABA?"

"Galinda, sit down and chill—you're making a scene," Elphaba said calmly.

I sat down and picked up the letter. "The students I'd sent after Miss Elphaba soon found her in the middle of the woods, with multiple injuries—she refuses to tell us what exactly happened. She was rushed to the infirmary and I believe it best for her if she go home and rest until she is fully recovered. She also had a swollen scar on her right hand—the scar showed signs of infection and we do not want anyone else getting sick. We also cannot afford to have her to get too attached to anyone here. Sincerely, Madame Morrible."

"We can't send that to Mom and Dad," Elphaba said quickly.

I nodded and said, "The only reason your scar was swollen was because we were separated for such a long time."

Elphaba nodded and added, "It's too late for me to not get attached to someone."

We looked at each other and, nodding in agreement, said, "We're attached to each other."