Page 68 of Fighter
Plus, I hadn't exactly responded to his last text.
Tonight, I was too emotionally exhausted and numb to reach out. Sleep was the next best step. Knowing Benjamin, it didn't mean anything that I didn't hear from him except he didn't want to deal with text messages. Or maybe he was avoiding me now that Sadie had reared her ugly head again. Every nerve end in my body felt frazzled, and I just wanted to curl up at home and sleep.
Tomorrow,I promised myself. I'd have a very frank, honest conversation with him then. We'd lay it out and get this awkward space behind us.
The drapes parted with the hiss of metal on metal and drew me from my thoughts. I braced myself for the nurse, but a weary face and bright eyes met me instead.
“Sera baby?”
Tears filled my eyes as Mom stepped into the room and threw her arms around me. I melted into her with relief, grateful to turn this disaster over to her more capable hands.
“Mom,” I whispered. “I’m so glad you came.”
I kept my eyes closed, but could feel her scrutiny of Talmage over my shoulder. She'd hold strong right now, but later, when Dad showed up, she'd break down. It was her way. And tonight, I was so grateful for that strength.
23
Benjamin
Pins and needles had taken over my body in a ruthless assault. When the welling nausea attacked again, I leaned over the toilet and vomited. Once my stomach emptied for the tenth time, I sank to the floor and pressed my face to the cold tile.
I wanted to die.
In the doorway, Ava pranced closer on her tiptoes. Her snarled hair fell in her face, and her pajamas were rumpled. Through the haze of illness, I could at least tell that she was walking on her own this morning.
“You're sick too, Daddy?”
“Yeah,” I croaked, then groaned.
“Want some fizzy stuff?”
“Sure.”
I didn't, but it gave her something to do instead of staring at me, curled on the floor and ready to pass out. Several minutes passed. I may have started to fall asleep again because I jerked back to life when Ava set a cup on the floor next to me.
“Here Dad.”
“Thanks. Why don't you go watch ponies?”
“Kay,” she said softly, then padded away. She wouldn't be able to go back to school today, even though she appeared mostly better, and I couldn't have driven to save my own life. Somehow, I managed to crawl back to my bed and grab my phone. Every part of my body felt weak as I unlocked the screen and pulled up my messages to send one to Serafina.
Benjamin:Sick today don't come over
Only a few seconds passed before a reply beeped through. Or maybe it was hours. The spans of darkness that happened in between everything made it impossible to know. My brain could barely hold onto my own name, I certainly wasn't tracking the passage of time.
Groggily, I forced myself to look at the new message.
Serafina:Oh no! I'll bring soup as soon as I'm off work. Need anything else?
Before I could respond, I fell back to sleep on the thought that Ava had it right. It would make me feel better to have someone playing with my hair right now.
24
Serafina
The enticing smell of coffee drifted into my nose as I climbed the spiral staircase to my loft after work. The whirring of machines and quiet murmur of voices was a distant sound as I shut the door and let out a long sigh.
The smell of chicken noodle soup and fresh cookies greeted me next. Mom stood in my small kitchenette with a black apron on. Several small boxes stood in old grocery bags, no doubt filled with fresh soup ready for Benjamin. As soon as Ben had texted, I'd forwarded it to her. She replied,I was born ready for this.
