Page 49 of Deceitful Oath

Lux

“Noooo,” I groan, shooting out of bed and flying to the bathroom. I narrowly miss the toilet and throw up in the sink instead, slumping against the marble counter to catch my breath.

My insides twist and turn, threatening to repeat the offensive action.

I slide down, stretching out on the cool floor, my battered cheek pressed to the tiles. Taking steady breaths, I command my insides to calm down. Eventually, my body grows cold, and I force myself up.

I splash cold water on my face, brush my teeth, and pull on a fluffy white robe.

The bed was empty when I sprang out of it so I wander into the kitchen to search for Dominic. The shades are open and soft sunlight streams in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. I press myself against the glass, admiring the skyline.

At this early hour, the city seems calm, blanketed in delicate hues of pink and orange as the sun rises. Dominic lives right on the edge of City Park, a green oasis in a sea of glass and metal.

I watch the flurry of activity as morning runners circle its winding paths and sleepy pet owners take their dogs for walks. I turn back, heading to the fridge for some ice-cold water to help settle my stomach.

What the heck is up with my insides lately? Must be all the stress.

I pour myself a tall glass of water and lean on the counter. A white sheet of paper catches my eye and I slide it closer, flipping it open.

Luxy,

I’ve got a busy day today. I’ll be home around dinner. Enjoy your free time!

Love,

Dominic

A smile slips onto my face, making my cheek hurt. I stuff the note into my pocket and head back to the bathroom to get a better look at myself. A terrifying image awaits me in the mirror.

I study the deep circles around my eyes, the bruise that now takes up the entire left side of my face, and my dry cracked lips. I shudder, wondering how to even go about fixing my nightmare of a face.

Suddenly, the glass of water I drank violently exits my body and I wretch over the sink, letting it out.

Dizziness makes me slide to the floor and I shut my eyes, trying to steady my breath. My chest burns like I’m having a heart attack and a nasty burp escapes my throat.

Vomiting, acid reflux, dizziness—am I getting sick?

A sinking feeling suddenly hits me, and my eyes fly open.No, there’s no way.

I rack my brain, trying to remember my last period. Surely it was a few weeks ago? My mind goes blank and I struggle to recall the last time I bought tampons. But I have an IUD, I remind myself, relaxing a little bit.

Although, when was I supposed to get it replaced?

With all the craziness of the last few weeks, plus the exhaustion of holding down three jobs, I kind of lost track of time. A hazy memory of missing my last gynecologist appointment bounces around my brain.

That was the day my Toyota broke down on the freeway and I had to spend my last fifty bucks on a tow truck. I think about my little red clunker for a second, wondering if the police ever found it.

Forcefully, I push myself away from the counter and stumble into the bedroom.

I throw on a pair of sweats and a sweatshirt, piling my messy hair into a bun. Sprinting to the entryway, I search the drawers of Dominic’s coat closet for a pair of sunglasses. I plop them on and glance in the mirror.

It’s not much, but it covers some of the bruising—and my bloodshot eyes.

I pull on my shoes and trip into the elevator, tapping my feet in an anxious rhythm. When I burst out into the street, sunlight blinds me and I pull the sunglasses tighter against my face.

My phone tells me there’s a pharmacy five minutes away, so I hustle up the sidewalk.

The quiet serenity of the park on the other side of the street beckons me, begging me to forget my mission. I almost choose to remain in denial. I could just spend the morning enjoying an iced coffee on the grassy knoll.

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