Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty much the same. I just couldn’t produce many details about the days. My throat squeezed closed and my tongue expanded like a fat piece of sandpaper in my mouth. Saxon hung close by and tried to force me to go to the nurse, but I didn’t want to miss seeing Jake. Even if he was going to be wrapped around Nikki, I needed to see him. It was like a horrible addiction. He did manage to disentangle himself long enough to hold me by the arm and tell me I looked terrible. I remember his face looked swimmy, but so handsome it made my eyeballs ache. I think I told him that I was fine, not to worry, but I couldn’t be sure.
By the time I got home that night, Mom was there, fussing and worrying over me. I could hardly keep my eyes open to talk to her. I felt like I wanted to throw up, but I couldn’t remember when I had last eaten. I heaved a little, drank some cold water from the bathroom sink and went to bed. A hacking cough kept me up for a lot of the night, but in and out of consciousness, I dreamed and it was confusing and boy-filled.
When I woke up the next day, my room was too bright. I squinted against the light and felt the stress of being late. But this was really late! I jumped up and stared at the clock. It was after ten! I felt shaky on my feet, and a little nauseous.
I ran to the bathroom, and heard Mom call to me from the kitchen. I skidded out and looked at her, blinking the sleep out of my eyes.
“Your alarm went off for fifteen minutes, Bren. You didn’t even open your eyes.” She frowned.
“I never sleep through my alarm.” My speech slurred with sleepiness.
“I know.” Mom pursed her lips. “I think we should go see Dr. Hrabachuck.”
“No,” I said woozily. “I feel fine.”
“You don’t look fine, Brenna. Saxon and Jake both called me. You haven’t been yourself in school. You look worn out. Maybe it’s just exhaustion, but I’d like to have it checked out.” She frowned at me. “Go back to bed, sweetheart. I’m calling to make an appointment.”
Saxon called? Jake called? I felt a swell of happiness through my aching weariness. I wanted to argue with Mom, go to school and see what I was addicted to seeing, but I went back to my room and crashed, suddenly overwhelmed by the full weight of my tired body. Mom came in a while later and put her hand on my head, then murmured something. I heard her call Thorsten outside my bedroom door.
Then Fa was there, carrying me out to the car and buckling me into the seat. I remember being at Dr. Hrabachuck’s office. I remember his bushy moustache and his white teeth when he smiled. Later, Mom told me I fainted. She told me while she was crying and holding my hand, which I patted while I told her it would be okay.
It wound up that I had pneumonia. It had probably started as the flu, but I never got it checked out and it spread into my lungs. Mom blamed herself. She had been busy organizing things for spring semester classes, and she hadn’t been home to see me, so she never realized how crappy I was feeling. For my mom to miss something like a major illness was pretty weird, but we hadn’t been spending as much time together lately.
Dr. Hrabachuck put me on strict bed rest, lots of fluids, antibiotics and pain killers. I spent a lot of time coughing and even more time sleeping. I was mostly bored and tired. Mom had given instructions to the few people she thought might call not to. She told them I needed my rest. I knew this because Kelsie sent me a message on Facebook, which became my only window to the outside world after four abysmal days in bed.
Hey Bren!
How are you? Your mom told me that I’m not allowed to call, but I’ve been freaking out. Pneumonia! You really do it up when you get sick! Saxon has been really worried. It’s kind of weird, but also really cute. Maybe he’s not such a jerkoff after all. He’s been picking up your homework for you. I think your mother is going to let him drop it off Sunday afternoon if you’re feeling better. There’s a few celeb magazines in there from me and a really good romance novel; I thought you needed something interesting and not by some dead Russian to read. Call me when your mom lets you! Miss you! Hugs and kisses,
Kelsie
Today was Sunday. I was feeling much better, but also kind of gross and skanky. I got out of bed and my legs actually wobbled under me. I made my way to the shower and turned it on. Mom was at the bathroom door in a minute.
“What are you doing?” she cried.
“I can smell myself, Mom.” I put a hand on the wall to steady myself. “I’m just going to take a shower.”
She looked worried. “Are you sure you feel strong enough?” Her blue-gray eyes were nervous.
“I feel great, Mom. I mean, I’m a little weak, but mostly good.” And I did honestly feel good, finally. My head was clear, and I had stopped trying to hack my lungs out of my chest.
“Okay.” She looked worried. “I’ll be right down the hall, and I’ll have my ear out for you if you need, sweetie.”
She left, and I stripped down, then stepped into the good hot water. I hopped back out after a second to grab a toothbrush. My body felt weirdly weak, and my stomach was caved in. As soon as I smelled the mint of the toothpaste, my stomach started to rumble. I was hungry! That had to be a good sign.
I put on a comfy pair of yoga pants and a long sleeved t-shirt. I combed my hair back and put on some lip-gloss. Then I took a look in the mirror. I looked like a pale, hollow-cheeked version of myself with dark circles under my eyes and pale lips, shiny from my raspberry lip-gloss.
I ventured out to the kitchen and was greeted by Thorsten’s bear hug. “Brenna! It’s so good to see you up!”
“Fa,” I squeaked, my voice crushed by his arms. “I’m glad to be up too.”
“You look hungry. Come have an apple tart with me.” He pointed to the distinct box.
“Zinga’s?” I tried to keep my voice casual.
“Jake brought them over on Friday.” Thorsten grinned. “I think he was trying to sneak in to see you. But you know Mom. She told him that you weren’t having any visitors. Then she gave him the ‘laser eyes.’”
I groaned. “No she didn’t.” That was what Thorsten and I called Mom’s angry stare, the one that cowed rowdy students and made grown men shake in their boots.
He chuckled. “You know she did. It’s okay, Brenna. He’s a big boy. He can deal with it. Do you want some tea?”
“That would be nice, Fa.” I sat down to eat my tart and wound up wolfing it down so fast I nearly choked. So, Jake had come to see me. I wondered if he mentioned the visit to Nikki.
Just then the doorbell rang. Thorsten looked up, surprised, but it was Mom who shot past like a bullet and answered it.
“Thank you, Saxon.” I could see her reach for something through the four inches she’d opened the door before she tried to slam it in his face. “She’s not up for visiting yet.”
“Mom!” I called in a panic. I couldn’t imagine the entire day lying in bed alone again. I was starved for conversation, a friendly face. I couldn’t stand that Saxon was on the other side of the door, and I might not see him. “I’m up. Please, can he come in? I feel really good!”
Mom peeked at me from her post by the front door and pursed her lips uncertainly.
“Please?” I begged. “I’ll get back in bed. I won’t exert myself. Please?”
“Alright,” Mom said, but she didn’t look happy. Saxon followed her in, a pile of books in his hands. I couldn’t remember ever seeing him carry even one book. He looked like a wild animal that someone let in the house because it promised it would be on its best behavior.
“Maybe I could make Brenna a tray of food so she can eat while she relaxes,” Saxon offered, his face angelic.
Mom clucked her tongue appreciatively and walked me to bed, calling orders over her shoulder to Thorsten. She got my pillows arranged so I could sit up and smoothed my covers. I asked if she would open my curtains and crack the window, and she did that, too.