Winter (Not Edited)

Chapter 9

Winter held her head as she walked to the shower. If she could go back in time, she would have told herself to stay inside and not go in the rain.

A sneeze erupted from her, followed by another one. Her eyes were watering and her head was pounding, uncontrollably. Her body ached as the hot water hit her skin. Now she felt dumb, a moment of carelessness caused her what was now three days of being sick.

She hadn't seen Emerson for the past three days, besides dinner, which she managed to hold back any signs of her being sick. She did not want to worry him for a little cold.

Making her way to do her chores, it felt as if she couldn't walk. Winter pushed through as she made her way to make a coffee for Emerson, before she realized he had already left. She sat the coffee down as she made tea for herself, considering her throat was sore.

Emerson had been working on a huge project. If he sold this, he could get his name further out amongst those who didn't already know of him. Perhaps even international.

Emerson had been so caught up in this project he hadn't been able to see Winter. He wondered if she purposely avoided him while he was in the house. Sometimes she did run away like a little rabbit would run from a fox.

The day dragged out, and it was now time to prepare dinner. Winter had hoped she would get better today, but it had only gotten worse. She was burning up, and freezing at the same time.

She made pasta and a quick tomato sauce so she could quickly serve it and head to bed. Winter quickly ran to the bathroom located in the hallway to check if she looked sickly. She splashed her face with cold water and patted her face dry.

Quickly, she grabbed a plate of the pasta and rushed it to Emerson. Emerson sat at the table waiting for his little maid to bring him dinner.

Winter sat it in front of him before turning to leave. "Winter." His deep voice sent shivers through her body. It made her muscles tense.

She slowly turned around to face him. He cleared his throat before speaking, "I am going to be gone until Friday evening. I expect you to keep the house clean." Emerson spoke with ease.

Winter nodded in understanding. She really needed to go to bed, her feet felt as if they were going to break. Emerson watched as she stood there, her eyes looked tired. She almost looked sickly until she shot him a smile before heading to the kitchen.

Winter exhaled a wavering breath. She coughed into her elbow, she leaned onto the counter and inhaled deeply.

After eating a small dinner she brought tea up to her room. She wanted to shower, but she was physically unable to move anymore. She wondered where Emerson was going, she could ask him to pick up some medicine to help her, but she quickly shook the thought away. There was no need to worry about it. Winter told herself, she would be better in the morning.

Pulling the thick blankets over her, she was shivering from the coldness. She wanted a fire, but that would mean Emerson would see her like this.

Silent tears traced her face, wetting her cheeks. She shook as more tears fell out of her eyes. Winter was in pain, and working all day did nothing to help the situation. She had even took a pain killer, she hated taking medicine.

Slowly and painfully she fell asleep, hoping tomorrow would be better. Though when she woke, her eyes burned and her headache was worse than yesterday.

Emerson had left her alone for a few days. He had business in London and could not miss it. Though he couldn't help, but wonder what if something happened. He told her no fires for obvious reasons, but she would freeze. He would have someone drop a heated blanket to her before tonight.

It was later that day a knock on the door got Winter away from her chores. When she opened the door, a man with a package was smiling at her. She took the box as the man began to speak, "That is for Winter, to whom I presume is you." Winter smiled and shook her head no.

"I never ordered anything," her voice came out harsh and terrible. It sounded as if she had been smoking for a century. She coughed trying to sound more normal for the next time she might speak.

The delivery man gave her a confused look, but shook it off.

"Emerson told me to drop it off for you, since he is gone for a day or so." He explained. Winter nodded her head as they bid one another farewells.

Winter began to open the package. She cut through the type and opened the cardboard flaps. She pulled the bag out, it felt heavy. Winter opened it carefully and started smiling more.

Positively, the most comfortable blanket she had ever felt lay upon her lap. She sat crisscross on the floor unfolding the blanket. Her eyebrows twisted together as she stared at the cord coming out of the blanket.

Reaching into the bag she flipped over a piece of paper, Heated Blanket, it read. She smiled as she stood up and placed the blanket on the couch. Tossing the trash into the bin, she walked back to her new blanket.

She made it halfway to her blanket before she reached for the wall, she felt so hot and cold at the same time. Blinking away the wave of dizziness, she plopped down on the sofa after plugging the cord into the socket.

Turning it on, she waited for the warmth. Once it started warming up, she was a goner. The poor girl wrapped in the heat producing blanket was far sicker than she would admit. She did this to herself, she didn't want to be a hassle for anyone, even if it meant hurting herself more.