Page 53 of Give Me a Reason

“I love graphic novels.”

“Me too. What do you like about them?”

“I have a hard time picturing what things look like. The pictures help with that.”

“You want to know how I play with emotions and get them just right?”

I didn’t hear a response, but Paisley must have nodded her assent.

“I look at myself in the mirror and experiment with different expressions. I read somewhere that the cartoonists for film studios do that for their movies.”

“Really? That’s so cool.”

“It’s pretty silly. There were all these pictures showing the cartoonists doing the facial expressions in the mirror next to their sketches. Let’s try it in the bathroom.”

The girls moved away, but I heard them giggling and discussing the best way to look happy and angry. I loved that she was showing Paisley something important to her. I bet she didn’t show many people her drawings.

After that, I must have fallen asleep. The next thing I knew, Aria was nudging me awake. “Do you want to drink some water and take some medicine for your fever?”

She helped me sit up and handed me the glass of water.

I felt hotter than before and achy. “Yes, pills would be good. They’re in the cabinet next to the microwave.”

“I’ll get it,” Aria said as she stood and made her way to the kitchen.

“I’ll sleep here tonight,” I said when she returned with two red and blue pills.

“I can help you upstairs. Do you mind if I sleep in the guest room?”

“You don’t need to do that.”

“I want to. What if Paisley needs something in the middle of the night? Or do you want me to call Naomi?”

“I can call her tomorrow if I’m not better.” I swallowed the pills with the water and set the glass down. Just the act of sitting up and swallowing some pills had zapped the small amount of energy I had.

“Let’s get you to bed.” I let Aria help me to stand.

The walk up the steps and to my bedroom was longer than usual. Every step felt like a mile. When I was finally able to sit on the bed, I fell back.

“Do you want me to take off your clothes?” Aria asked.

I smiled, or at least I tried to, and said, “I’d like that, but I’m too tired to appreciate it.”

“Your eyes are closed.” I could practically hear the frown in her voice.

“Are they? I’m so tired.” I rolled over because it felt good.

I felt the brush of a blanket over my body, and then I was out.

When I woke, the light outside was bright.

Paisley. I was supposed to get her to school.

I was still warm but not as hot as I was the night before.

“Oh good, you’re up,” Aria said as she came into my room.

“Paisley,” I said, my throat almost too sore to speak.

---