Spiraled ⚪⭐⚪⭐ (A Brollins Novel)✔

EPISODE TWENTY-NINE

"I so wish I could be there to give Colby a warm hug," Ashley was telling Rebecca over the phone while the latter listened only half attentively. "But as it stands, I'm stuck in this boring office with hundreds of new designs and fabrics to sort out. Plus the fashion event which is fast approaching, there's also a wedding I've to arrange in a week's period. The couple are quite adamant that I personally see to all the arrangements. They don't want a speck of mistake. But I'll try to visit the hospital at the earliest. Perhaps tomorrow?"

"Yes, yes," Rebecca says to her friend, the sudden, piercing headache she's experiencing causing her voice to be a little raspy. "No rush, Ash. Just do whatever you have to do first. Colby will understand."

Ashley starts rambling about how dreadful the entire incident with Colby's mother is but Rebecca's mind isn't on Ashley's voice or words. It's on the growing ache in her head which appears to have doubled up tenfold in mere seconds. Her head feels as if its insides is being prickled by thousands upon thousands of tiny, invisible needles, the pain so raw and excruciating, her eyes begins to water with tears. Exhaling deeply and blinking away a few tears, she focuses her mind on the drive so as to not encounter an avoidable accident.

After several heartbeats, the pain had reasonably receded but its residue is still there; a dull but very much harsh ache which alerts her to the truthfulness of Fergal's words earlier this morning. First, it was the unsettling nausea from last night at the hospital and now the earth-splitting headache. It can't be a mere coincidence. She really needs to see her doctor.

Her mind returns to her friend just in time to hear Ashley say, "Give Colby a long, warm hug for me and tell him I offer the best of wishes to his mother for her speedy recovery."

"I will," Rebecca mumbles, hand tightening around the steering wheel. "But I don't think it's enough, Ash."

"What isn't? The treatment they're giving to his mother at the hospital?"

"No," Rebecca refutes. "I'm referring to the whole hug thing you want me to give him. I don't think it's enough. I don't believe I'm being much of a help to him."

"Oh Becks, don't say that. I'm pretty sure you're doing everything you can," Ashley contemplates, her voice muffled a bit. "Don't downplay yourself and I'm certain your support means the whole world to Colby."

Rebecca sighs deeply, as though in hopelessness but she knows deep down it's far from that. The feelings are more of helplessness and a scratchy itch to do more but not even having the faintest clue as to what she should do or how she should go about it. "I don't know Ash. He looked extremely fitful last night. It's especially his paranoia which bothers me the most. He doesn't have any hope things are going to improve and that's the complete opposite of the Colby I know. It's evident he's frightened about something. He left ten missed calls and five messages on my phone just this morning!"

"Oh, that's a bit much. Maybe he needed someone to talk to. Did he tell you the reason?"

"No," Rebecca replies as she steers her car to the right, en route to the hospital. "I called him back right after my shower and he said it was nothing, just wanted to make sure I'd reached home safely but I could tell he was lying. Something isn't right."

By her dismissive snort, Rebecca can tell her friend doesn't see any ominous lining in all the things she'd just told her. "You know what I think, Becks? You're the one being negativistic here. The poor guy just lost his father a week ago and the next week, his mother is hospitalized. Anyone in his shoes would've gone mad due to despair and uncertainty. With everything that has happened to him lately, it's understandable if he's a little pessimistic and scared. Besides, he gave you a simple but convincing—at least to me—reason; he wanted to make sure you'd reached home safely. What's your excuse for not picking up his calls soon enough?"