Page 19 of Capuleto

What was the right decision?

I had no idea, that’s why for the first time I let myself be carried by the current, hoping it would take me in the right direction.

I caressed the figure of the goddess Kali, seeking a sign. I felt nausea, a product of the drug, that made me crawl out from the warmth of the male body before I vomited on him.

It would not have been a great awakening for my husband.

My body was shivering, I could barely walk straight, and my skin felt as if it was being stung by the air.

I doubled over as soon as I saw the toilet in front of my eyes. Just in time to lift the lid and unload.

"Hey, are you okay?"

Romeo’s caring hand reached my hair. My knees were on the cold tiles, I remained clinging to the porcelain, and my stomach was completely churning.

"Go away, you don’t need to see this," I protested.

"I've seen worse, and I want to be here. I told you I wasn't going to leave you."

"Remind me of that when I schedule a laser hair removal and they lie you down next to me to zap your balls." Romeo made a face of disgust.

"I offer to hold your hand if you want. I’d rather not fry our future offspring." Another wave of nausea hit, and I unloaded again.

"Get out! I'm serious, Romeo."

"I'll start filling the tub and ask Ana María to prepare some herbs to settle your stomach. You'll see, you'll feel better."

I waved him away to fend off a third round of vomiting. Damn opium! I was wrecked. I vowed never to touch it again, even if Yuri begged me.

I managed to stand up with considerable effort. I looked at my reflection. I had never looked worse. My skin was sallow and I had deep bags under my eyes framing the green of my gaze.

I brushed my teeth and tongue. I needed to get rid of the taste of bile. I brushed my hair in a vain attempt to look better for my husband, because this time, I wasn’t grooming for myself, but for him.

Romeo came back with the promised infusion and made me drink it all, even though it tasted awful. I never liked herbal teas, and this one tasted like monkey butt.

"You could have thrown in some bourbon or rum, it feels like I'm drinking a damn manure field," I complained.

"Your stomach needs to cleanse, and Ana María is an expert at managing these infusions. If it tastes like manure, it’s because it's supposed to taste like manure, don't be whiny, amore."

"Why don’t you drink it then, smarty?"

"Because it's you who needs to flush out the toxins from the drug they gave you. Trust me and finish it." I took the last sip, and Romeo set the cup aside.

"Good girl," he praised.

He took off his sweatpants to be as naked as I was.

"What are you doing?" I asked, puzzled. Not that I minded seeing him naked, but I was too confused to start anything.

His splendid body made me admire him greedily.

"Helping you with the bath." My mouth was dry and my stomach tightened. My husband was too attractive for me not to want him, even feeling unwell.

"I don’t think I can have sex," I admitted. I had missed our intimacy so much, too much. And I was scared that sex would make me lose my bearings even more.

"I wasn’t planning on that." His face told me he wasn’t lying, and his lack of an erection did too. Was it possible he no longer found me attractive? The mere idea irritated me. "Come on, let me take care of you." He took my hand and squeezed it in a meaningful embrace, which led to a small kiss in the area of my neck where my pulse raced.

In an instant, I was lifted in his arms and gently placed in the bathtub with astonishing agility. The temperature was perfect. The water was tinted a beautiful shade of violet. I inhaled the calming scent of lavender submerged in the warmth of the water.

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