Between Then & Now || Currently Editing for Wattys 2022

27.

The van is dark when I wake up, Thelma snoring on the bed next to me. Still laying on my back, I tilt my head up, looking down at the same clothes I had on from the night before. My head pounds and I groan, rubbing my eyes. To my left, Thelma sputters awake, sniffling a little before standing up, circling a bit and laying back down next to my side.

My hand fumbles around my bed for my phone. Hopefully I didn't leave it in Dante's car last night. God. My head.

My fingers finally find the phone under the pillow next to me. The glass is cold as I pull it out, lifting it up to see the screen.

glad i met u ln, would love to grab coffee before you head out this a.m.

also, might be good to take some advil lol

The texts read in my head in Dante's voice, and a smile spreads across my face. I sit up, looking down at my phone, thumbs at the ready, then immediately regret it. My stomach turns.

I jump out of bed, rushing to the sink and just barely make it. My shoulders heave up as whatever was left in my stomach from the night before exits my body. When I'm done, I look down at the liquid in the sink and reach forward, turning on the water and washing it away. After a few seconds, another wave of nausea comes over me. And another.

When I'm finally done and manage to catch my breath again, I rip a paper towel off the roll and wipe my mouth. Thelma is staring at me, standing on the edge of the bed. Her eyes are so concerned and I laugh, my stomach gurgling a bit more. "I'm okay." I hobble over to the bed and plop down next to her. Her tiny feet are soft as she walks over my lap and plops down. One hand reaches down to gently pet her as the other reaches behind me for the phone I tossed somewhere onto the bed in my vomiting episode. When I finally find it, I smile back down at the texts,

Suddenly, my stomach turns again, and I jump up, running to the sink.