A Love Restored

Chapter 29

I woke up with a pit in my stomach. It was like my stomach was giving out. Like it was bottomless. As soon as I got out of bed and went into the bathroom, I threw up. It didn’t make me feel better. I was late for work, so I didn’t have time to worry. If I got sick at work, I’d have to deal with it then and there. I skipped my coffee and had some yogurt, rushing out of the house, hoping got the best. I hadn’t even had time to make breakfast for Dad, he’d be mad, but I’d just have to deal with it later.

As I drove, I didn’t feel any better. But I was recognizing this condition of upset stomach wasn’t because I had something weird or cought a bug. It was anxiety. That was good.

Anxiety I could handle. A bug? Probably not. Plus, I couldn’t afford to take days of

My stomach was growling with hunger as I pulled in. I hadn’t packed

d myself a lunch and would have to go o out to eat I couldn’t even afford that,

I hadn’t been diagnosed by a therapist, simply because, again, another thing I could not afford. But I was pretty sure I had some sort of anxietyText property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

sorder. My mother had it, too. So, it made sense. All the skin picking and the random throwing up and restlessness and unexplainable pain in my body all pointed to that. I had probably had it since I was a child, but I had only realized a few months ago

Linda was there today, thank God. She had already started on breakfast. A smoothie bowl with granola. She warmly told me that she had it for today, and that I could go ahead and clean up in the foyer and dining area. Huh. Had Felix and that woman made a mess? The thought disgusted me. Of him touching anyone else. Of someone touching him. Images from last night floated into my mind. It made me want to throw up again. But I swallowed my

discomfort.

It didn’t take long, and I went back to the kitchen.

Linda handed me a tray with a bowl of a pink colored smoothie, some granola, and some coffee. “Can you take this up to Felix? He’s feeling a bit under

the weather.”

Maybe she gave him something. Serves him right.

I bit my own lip,

1. chiding myself for even thinking that. Felix could hate me all he wanted, but I wouldn’t stoop so low as to wish him badly,

I nodded at Linda. “What happened to him?”

She shrugged, “Just a cold, I suppose.”

Felix would always get the worst colds in the history of mankind. I remembered from before, when he would fall sick, he’d be like a child. All his strength and masculinity would fade away, and I would coddle him and it would be so cute.

I took a deep breath, taking the tray up to his mom. I knocked lightly. When he didn’t answer, I slowly pushed the door open. He was still in bed. As the door opened, he looked at me quizzically.

“I brought breakfast,” I answered softly.

“Keep it here.”

I went towards him, and placed the tray of food on his bedside table. Felix was doing something on his phone as he lay in bed under a blanket. His nose was red, and the tips of his ears too. He sniffled a little. It was just like before. This way, he looked like the young 18 year old Felix I had known. Not the man he had now become, just the old Felix, my

Felin

1 gulped, “Felix, did you take your temperature?”

He took his sweet time in answering me, slowly turning his head to give me a look that said very clearly that he did not want me here. “I’m fine, Miss White. Please leave.”

“Please at least let me take your temperature.” I reached out to touch his forehead, but he visibly recoiled from me. I took my hand back, making a fist and digging my nails into my palm. “You have a fever.” I whispered.

“It is not your concern, Miss White,” he said coolly, “I will take care of myself”

“I know you can.” I told him, “But you don’t have to.”

He looked at me for a second. Another second. “Get the thermometer. I’ll do it myself.”

+109 Bonus

That was the best I would get, and I would take it. I hurried downstairs and fetched the thermometer. I knew he had a fever, so I took some pills too.

I handed them both to him together. He took the thermometer. As he measured his temperature, I stood to the side, waiting.

After a bit, he checked the result. Rolling his eyes, he put it on his bedside table. I peeped over. 101 C.

“Felix, that’s really high. I think I’ll call the doctor,” I told him, my tone laced with worry.

a

“Save it, Miss White,” he snapped. He jumped out of bed and I saw that it made him dizzy for a second.

I gulped. He walked to the washroom and shut the door behind him. I heard the shower running.

“I don’t think it’s the best idea to take a shower right now.” I yelled. I knew he heard me, because the shower turned off. He still didn’t emerge from the

washroom.

I really did want Felix to acknowledge me and recognize me, but that wasn’t a concern right now. If he kept refusing to let me take care of him like this, I’d have to pull some

other move.

“Mr. Corsino,” I knocked on the bathroom door, “I’m going to get you something warm to eat. Meanwhile, please take some medicines.”

If being curt and professional worked, then I had no problem doing it.

I went back to the kitchen where I saw Linda. She saw the tray of food in my hands, and raised a quizzical brow, “He didn’t eat?”

“He’s not well. He has a cold and a fever. I’m going to make him something warm to eat,” I told her. She nodded, “That sounds like a good idea, Flora.”