A World Alone - D.R.

twenty

The evening before the appointment rolled around quickly. A lot quicker than either Jade or Dan had realised it would. The perks of Jade's employment had meant that she been able to book an appointment directly, and within the week, they were making the short 30 minute drive to the clinic. The journey seemed to drag on, with every traffic light they encountered flicking to red as soon as jade's car was in view. When they eventually made it to the clinic, the air in the car was so think, Jade was finding it hard to breathe. Dan slung the car slightly wonky into space and set a hand on her knee. She placed her hand over it, feeling his warm solid self. She wove her fingers between his, and shut her eyes, breathing deeply, relying on her boyfriend's hand as a lifeline. As Jade's fingers tightened their grip on his hand, Dan leaned over and pulled her head close to his, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"It's going to be okay," He murmured into her hair.

"I know. Jade said, pushing her face into his shoulder, her eyes squeezed shut. She took and deep breath in, and pulled away, resting her head against the headrest of the car seat. She smiled an almost bright grim at Dan, and popped open the car door. "I love you," she said, and, with one last squeeze of his hand, she got out of the car, and lead the way to the clinic.

***

Dan hadn't been allowed into the room with Jade, and he stayed sat in the waiting room, his leg bouncing up and down as he waited. If Jade were sat beside him, she'd force her weight on his leg to keep it still, but without her, Dan didn't try extremely hard to keep it still. After what seemed like an age, Jade finally left the appointment room, with a little prescription bag in hand. Dan caught her eye, and swept her into a hug. jade pressed her eyes into his shoulder, and let him escort her to the car, collapsing into the car seat.

The drive back was quiet, the radio playing at a very low volume, and jade, keeping Dan's hand held tightly in her own, leaving him to change gears with his right. His day job training certainly came in handy. She only let his hand go when they left the car, but gripped back onto it as s they walked up to their flat. She wasn't quite sure when she decided to call it their flat, but it had suddenly morphed into theirs and not hers. When she walked through the threshold, she let go of Dan, to dump her stuff on the sofa, and headed straight to the bedroom, nestling under the covers. Dan watched her walk down the corridor and flicked the kettle on, automatically making her a cup of tea just the way she liked it, with half a spoonful of honey stirred in. He placed it on the coaster next to the bed, and hovered, not sure what to say to his girlfriend. Her clothes were haphazardly thrown on the floor and he could see the collar of one of his work t-shirts at her neck. Jade's hand poked out of the duvet, and beckoned him closer. Dan smiled tightly at her, and shed his jeans, getting into bed, and pulling Jade into his arms.

"I didn't know i'd feel bad," Jade whispered.

"Are you regretting it?" Dan asked her, his brows knitting together as his stomach tied itself into a knot.

"No," She replied. "I think it's the hormones." she replied. licking her lips.

Dan nodded, knowing she could feel what he was doing. "Can I do anything for you?"

Jade shook her head. "This is all i need," She murmured, her hands gripping his arm like a vice. "Just you right now."

Dan held her close, and they laid there for the rest of the day. talking softly, only leaving to get toast and tea, and eating it together in the kitchen. Sat so close, their thighs pressed against each other and their elbows bumped whenever they moved. its was a wholly uncomfortable eating position, but neither would have it the any other way.

When Jade had to take the second tablet from the prescription bag, Dan rubbed her back as she swallowed it with water, and sat with her upright on the TV, ready to make lemon and ginger tea in case she felt ill. he watched her and she slouched slightly on the couch, as she watched her comfort show for the millionth time, her lips mouthing the words, and smiling before the joke punchlines landed. She she slipped down into laying on the couch, he pulled her feet into his lap and gave them the massage she always begged for. Their eyes met, and she yawned, setting him off too, and he carried her to bed. tucked her in, the duvet making a perfect silhouette of her as she giggled while his movements tickled her. And then, in the middle of the night, when she had to run to the toilet to be sick, he held her hair back, and made lemon and ginger tea and listened when she said this was a normal side effect and that she'd need to take more time off work, and Dan became even more immeasurably happy that the summer break was dragging, It gave him more time to look after her. The girl with dark her and a glittery drink who had become his whole world.