Page 170 of The Breaking Pointe
This time Noelle is facing me as I enter the room, indicat- ing that she is somewhat awake.
“Hey, sweetness. You okay?” I ask in the softest voice I can.
“I don’t know what happened.My body aches.I think I caught something from one of my dance-mates.”She sighs, speaking with a groan.“I just know I need to get better before my show.”
“Hey, you’ll be okay.I’ll make sure,” I reason, walking up to her and sitting on the edge of the bed again. “Why didn’t you call me? I would’ve came home and helped you,” I insist, getting her a dose of medicine ready.
She watches me, looking weak in the face.“Because you’re busy.”
I press the washcloth against her forehead, patting her face before I kiss her forehead. “I’m never too busy for you. Take this medicine for me. And then I have a bath running for you, okay?” She nods, taking my directions and listening. She forces the medicine down, making a disgusted face like a child, then tries to sit up. Seeing her struggle a bit, I help her until she’s fully sat up.
“Can I take your temperature?Please?”I beg as I’m reminded of her body heat when my hands touch her skin.
“Okay.” She nods, giving me time to get the thermometer ready and rest it in her open mouth.
Within seconds, it beeps, and I remove it, giving it a quick look.101.
“Is it bad?”She sits back, rubbing her face.
I clear my throat, shaking my head.“It’s nothing we can’t fix. Lemme get you to the bathroom.”
Pulling back the blankets, I wrap my arms around her, scooting an arm under her legs to pick her up and get her to the warm bath.Standing up straight, I lift her from the warm covers, exposing her to the chilly air.It makes her wince and grab hold of me.
“It’s okay, I got you,” I whisper, strolling to the bathroom to sit her on the edge of the tub.
I don’t waste a moment and begin to undress her, watching her shiver as I do. I can’t get her ready any quicker, though. “Whenever you’re ready, get in.I’m gonna stay right here,” I remind her, letting her take control as she turns her feet into the water and slowly slips into it.As soon as her body is submerged in the water, she brings her knees to herchestandlayshercheekonherknees,lettingtheends
of her hair float in the water.
“Little better?”I ask, kneeling down to sit on the floor, dipping the washcloth in the water once again.
She barely nods, closing her eyes.
Leaning forward, I kiss her cheek, squeezing some warm water down her back before turning the faucet off. I repeat- edly squeeze more water on her body until I can tell she isn’t shivering anymore, kissing at all the freckles I can find on her shoulders and arms, admiring her porcelain skin. Perfect in every way, and finally healed from that monster who left her with bruises.
“Does that feel good?”I whisper.
“You’re gonna get sick,” she murmurs. “I’ll be okay,” I say calmly.
She takes a deep breath, looking at me and showing her big, green eyes.Moving her hair out of her face, I whisper more, “You know that I love you, so much?”
“You only say it every day…” She sniffles, coughing softly. “But it’s okay because I love you, too.”
Smiling, I notice her nose becoming red and rosy.“Yeah, but I wanna take care of you.In sickness and in health,” I admit.
“Like husband and wife?” she questions.I nod. “Yeah,” I mumble.
She watches me commit to running water all over her body with the cloth, intently paying attention.
“I would marry you,” she says, making her voice louder. My hand stops, and I scan her face. “Would you?”
She nods,smilingwith asmuchenergy asshecan.
Taking a deep breath, I continue the topic. “So…what kind of wedding would we have?”
She closes her eyes again, maybe daydreaming, or even creating the plan in her head.
“Purple.I love purple,” she answers.“That’s what the bridesmaids would wear.”
