Page 80 of Where the River Meets the Skye

“Well, I’m calling with what I’m hoping will be good news.”

“Oh?” River said. “What’s that?”

“I was out to lunch with a friend today, and she was talking about how her sister was really sick and had been for a long time, and finally got a diagnosis. And I thought that her symptoms sounded really similar to yours, so I wanted to pass on to you guys what doctor this girl’s sister saw, ‘cause they’re about an hour away, and it seems like it’s been helping her, and maybe, I don’t know… I don’t want to give you false hope, ‘cause I know you have been to hell and back for years with this crap, but I thought it might be worth a shot. I mean it might not be what you have, but I thought it was worth a try.”

“Yeah, it might be. What’s the diagnosis, or treatment, or whatever?”

“It’s called POTS,” Anna said. “That’s what my friend’s sister has. It took her years to get a diagnosis but she has pretty much all of the same symptoms that you do. Except for the tailbone pain and the arthritis stuff. But I mean, the palpitations, and the nausea, and lightheadedness, and fainting, and dizziness, and she was bedridden for years too. But she found this doctor, whose daughter I guess also has it, so she knows a lot about it, and anyway, she’s been doing better. She’s gotten to the point where she has a part time job now.”

“Wow,” River said, and he couldn’t help but feel a little bit hopeful again. “That’s awesome.”

“It’s called what, again?” River asked, and he could feel Skye’s fingers stalling in his hair, his interest clearly piqued.

“POTS,” Anna said. “It stands for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.”

River grabbed the pen and paper that were sitting by his nightstand and wrote the name down and showed it to Skye. His husband blinked at him and pursed his lips, then shrugged, indicating that he’d never heard of it before.

“So, some of the things my friend suggested were drinking coconut water and other things with lots of electrolytes to stay hydrated, and eating lots of salty snacks. Apparently that’s what her sister does. They also said you could try compression socks. If you want to check out the doctor’s website I can send you the information.”

“Yes, please, that would be amazing.”

“Okay. I’ll send it now. Let me know how it goes, if you can. I really hope this helps you, River.”

“Thank you,” he said. “I really appreciate it. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

“That sounded like good news,” Skye prodded as River set his phone aside.

“Yeah, Anna thinks she may have found a doctor who can help me.”

“Really?” Skye said, sitting up more.

River filled him in. They took a look at the website Anna had texted to him, and sent an email asking for a consultation, and then Skye took River back into his arms, holding him tight.

“Skye,” River said, his hand resting on his husband’s chest. “Thank you.”

“For what?” Skye asked, tilting his head slightly to look down at him.

“For everything,” River said. “For sticking with me through all of this. I know it’s been just as hard for you as it has been for me. Just in a different way. I know how hard you have worked, and how stressed and tired you have been. You have always put me first. And I know this isn’t what you thought marriage would be. So thank you. I know I have complained a lot, and cried a lot and you’ve had to be the strong one. I just want you to know that I see you. I see how much you love me, and everything you sacrifice, and how hard you work. And I appreciate it more than you know. And I love you.”

Skye shifted away from River slightly and loosened his grip. He put his fingers under River’s chin and lifted his face so that River was looking him in the eyes. And then he kissed him soundly.

River rested his hand on Skye’s cheek and kissed him back, falling onto his back and pulling Skye on top of him, his husband’s tongue sliding into his mouth, and they both moaned as their kissing intensified and their cocks began to harden against one another’s.

It wasn’t long before they were both naked and River had his legs wrapped around his husband as Skye slid inside him. They let out a string of curses as they came together, and then held each other, basking in their post orgasmic bliss.

“I love you, Riv,” Skye said.

“I love you, too, Skye,” River whispered. They touched their lips together a few more times and then slid under the covers and snuggled up together once again.

And with Skye by his side, River knew that he would be okay. They didn’t have all of the answers about life, or faith, or about anything, really, but they had each other, and that was enough.

River

EPILOGUE

SEVEN MONTHS LATER

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