I spent the rest of Sunday and Monday mostly sleeping, occasionally interrupted by coughing spells until medicine kicked in. Niall had apparently called out of work Sunday to make sure I was okay—which I was not entirely pleased with when I realized it, though I was happy for him to get some time off—and went back on Monday. By Tuesday morning, I was feeling a lot better. I was still sick and not quite at one hundred percent, but my body aches were a lot less intense, so I decided to go back to work as well.
Parker was glad to see me up and about, and even cheered. I couldn’t remember the last time I got a cheer for doing something so basic as existing, but it felt nice. Sybil, on the other hand, eyed me doubtfully.
“You still sound congested,” she commented brusquely as I handed her a plate of breakfast.
“Yeah, maybe I should blow my nose,” I replied, playfully tugging at one of her sleeves. “Can I use your shirt?”
The glare I got was positively withering. If being sick was bad for my health, that expression was still worse.
“My friend showed me a video with this guy who could shoot snot out of his nose,” Parker interjected obliviously in between bites of sausage. “He put his finger on his nostril and then blew out of the other one, and it just shot out like spit.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t actually spit?” I asked him, dimly aware that this was a gross conversation to be having over breakfast. Having raised Parker long enough, and talking with moms of other boys in the neighborhood, it really wasn’t that abnormal.
Parker shook his head. “Definitely wasn’t spit,” he confirmed.
“Then that’s pretty impressive,” I said, handing him an iron tablet, which he washed down with his apple juice. Given his DNA and the dietary needs of spiders, he required more iron than I could reasonably give him without having him go full-on vampire, and that just wasn’t realistic.
I sat down with my fruit and protein shake, listening quietly as Parker continued to chatter about snot. He was very animated. As usual, he was waiting for the last possible moment before putting his vest on, so he sat shirtless, his spider legs gesticulating the same way someone might if they were using their hands while they talked. He accidentally hit Sybil a few times, who was less than thrilled.
“Can you not?” she snapped, ducking a furry spider leg as it almost slapped her in the face.
Parker stopped his monologue and narrowed his eyes before proceeding to poke Sybil’s face with his extra leg.
Sybil glared at him, and for a moment, I was concerned she was going to throw her plate at him, try to bite him, or both.
Luckily, I caught a glimpse of the school bus creeping over the hill.
“Parker, don’t antagonize your sister,” I scolded, eyeing him sternly. “And both of you, get ready, because the bus is almost here.”
Parker and Sybil gave each other one last look before sighing and going to get their things. Soon enough, Parker was clothed and presentable, and Sybil was at the door with her backpack and dark glasses. I didn’t want to leave off the morning with correcting Parker, so I gave them both a hug and wished them a good day at school.
“Love you!” I said, waving as they headed out the door and gave murmured, vaguely coherent replies. I smiled and couldn’t help but chuckle as I went back to finish my breakfast before heading to work.
-
The day started out fine, with my normal routines and duties. I took orders, fielded phone calls, and manned the register—and for a few hours, that wasn’t a problem. Somewhere around 11:30, however, a fatigue came over me. I first noticed it while I was taking inventory. One moment I was taking stock of what flowers we had and how much longer they would be good for, and the next I found myself staring at irises and thinking about how nice it would be to take a nap. Another time, I bent down to get a pot and everything in me wanted to curl up right there on the floor—although, since I was getting the pot for a customer, that would have been pretty rude. A third time, I was taking an order over the phone and suddenly found myself breathing heavy just from the small effort it took to hold a conversation
I was used to the 3 PM slump, which was usually when one of my coworkers went out to get everyone coffee anyway, but it wasn’t even noon yet. I began to dread how long the rest of my day would feel while I was like this. Sybil’s accusatory remark about my congestion came to the forefront of my mind, and I really wanted to swear at that teenager, but she wasn’t there and it wouldn’t have been very nice, in any case.
I held out as long as I could before taking my lunch break. The last thing I wanted was to take it too early and have the rest of the day drag by even slower. I grabbed my prepared lunch out of the refrigerator and discreetly went back to my car. The inside was warm and felt more comfortable than it probably should have. I set my phone alarm to go off ten minutes before my break was up so I would have enough time to eat, but until then, I passed out in the back seat.
It wasn’t enough. I woke up to the grating jingle from my phone feeling no better than I did before my break. If anything, I think I actually felt more groggy than before. I forced myself to scarf down my lunch, but my sandwich felt like rocks in my stomach.
“You look awful,” Katherine commented when I returned.
The front door chimed behind me as it closed. Katherine was at the register and her face held an expression of concern.
“Aw, thanks,” I replied sarcastically, not having energy for anything much wittier than that.
“No, seriously, you do not look good,” she replied, eyeing me up and down. “You look like you’re going to keel over.”
I sure felt like I was going to.
“I’m fine,” I lied. “Just a little tired. I’ll feel better when Debbie goes for the daily coffee run.”
Katherine glared at me doubtfully. “Come here.”
I walked over, my legs feeling the familiar ache that had been plaguing them for so many weeks. It was as if every bone from my hip sockets down was groaning in pain. When I reached the register, Katherine’s hand shot to my forehead.
“You’re hot,” she told me.
“Thanks,” I murmured.
She rolled her eyes and sighed. “I think Niall is rubbing off on you. I swear, you and him can be the same idiot sometimes,” she grumbled. “Either way, you’re still sick. You need to go home.”
“No, I’m fine,” I protested, suddenly feeling terrible. It was still in the middle of our busiest season. This was no time to be absent from work.
“No, you’re not. You shouldn’t be here; you should be at home resting,” Katherine replied firmly.
“That’s going to leave you understaffed. I can finish the day without a problem,” I insisted.
“No. I don’t need or want a sick person here, infecting me, other employees, or customers,” she said, crossing her arms. “I know you want to help, but the best help you can give me right now is to go home.”
Her words stung a little, but I knew she was right. Granted, I wasn’t sure whatever virus I had could spread to normal humans with how long I’d had it at that point, but I did need to rest and me worrying Katherine wasn’t going to help the shop function any better. Still, it felt like someone had lumped the weight of another personal failure onto my shoulders. Just one more thing I couldn’t do now.
I closed my eyes and rubbed the bridge of my nose. “Okay, okay, I’ll head home,” I agreed, sighing.
“Do you want me to call someone to give you a ride?” Katherine offered gently.
I shook my head. “No, I’ll be good. Thanks though.”
She frowned and studied me, not convinced. “All right, but I want you to text me when you get home so I know you didn’t die on the way.”
I forced a laugh. “Will do,” I assured her.
Katherine was right to be concerned. I had to blast the radio to drown out my fatigue. My arms felt like lead and steering became a monumental effort. The entire ride home was a battle to stay alert and awake. In spite of feeling so awful about having to leave and not being there when Katherine needed the help, I was thankful she cared enough to make me leave early. Had I worked my full shift, I don’t know what condition I would have been in for the drive home.
I did make it back safely, though, and sent her the obligatory text. The house was empty, but the kids would be home soon. I groaned just thinking about how Sybil would react to me getting sent home. She was always too worried—too adult for someone her age. I almost wished she would just be a normal teen and want nothing to do with me.
Closing the door, I felt the silent security of my home wrap around me. I resisted the urge to drop everything by the door and crash on the nearest soft surface. I did plan to rest for the rest of the night, I just wanted to make sure there was at least some dinner for everyone to heat up before I did. I silently prayed for there to be enough TV dinners in the freezer, but honestly couldn’t remember the last time we bought any. They weren’t exactly the most satisfying meals for our particular dietary needs, but they worked in a pinch.
White mist rolled out of the freezer as I opened it, the chill hitting my face. I saw some bags of vegetables, fruit, packets of meat, and some ice cubes, but no pre-made meals. I groaned and leaned my head against the freezer door. Could I just leave a note and let the others know to make their own food? I felt bad doing that though, and my mind flashed back to Katherine telling me to go home. It made me feel so utterly useless. A sudden stubbornness filled me, and my chest burned. Maybe I couldn’t work, but like hell was I going let this virus prevent me from doing basic things for my family.
I opened the fridge and took stock of what was inside. There was a pack of chicken there. I could always make some quick chicken cutlets. Then Niall and the kids could just heat up the vegetables in the freezer.
I grabbed the pack and set it on the counter, along with some eggs and milk. As I closed the fridge, a fresh wave of dizziness washed over me. The sudden movement left my vision tilting. The counter and the floor shifted like the house had suddenly become a boat on turbulent waters. My stomach churned with nausea. I grabbed the edge of the counter and closed my eyes, taking deep breaths until the unease in my stomach faded. I slowly opened my eyes. The tilting was less now.
“Okay,” I breathed out. “It only takes a few minutes to cook these. I can do this. Just a few more minutes and then I can take a nap.”
Bread crumbs. I needed bread crumbs. And herbs. They were in the pantry.
I could do this.
I held on to the counter as I moved forward. One foot in front of the other.
Left. Right. Left. Right.
I mentally coached myself until I reached the pantry door. I had to let go of the counter to go in. I didn’t quite feel steady, but I was able to stand okay. Relieved, I laughed. Everything was going to be fine. This wasn’t so bad. I was being dramatic.
I took what I needed and brought it back to the kitchen, placing them next to the chicken. Next I had to get the pan. I turned and began to walk toward cabinets where we kept them. As soon as I did, the world went into a tailspin again. Colors and furniture blurred together. I staggered and tried to find something to steady myself on, but my eyes couldn’t focus long enough on anything for me to see what I could hold on to.
The counter. I wasn’t that far from it.
I tried to turn, the world still shifting and spinning. My stomach lurched and I held my hands out in front of me. I felt something solid beneath my fingers and almost sighed with relief. The counter. It was so small and insignificant a thing for it to be there, but it meant so much in that moment.
I strained my arms, lurching over the counter. My legs started shaking underneath me. My stomach was churning.
This had been a bad idea. I should have stayed home this morning. I should have just left a note. I should have just gone upstairs to rest. I should have—
But before I could think of anything else I should have done, the world suddenly went black.
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