Emily Under The Weather

Chapter 5-Death on the floor

Light poured into Emily's room and blinded her as she opened her eyes. Her head was still aching, but it wasn't nearly as bad as the day before. She also didn't feel as hot and her throat wasn't so sore. Emily wanted to celebrate as she realized she was really recovering. Before anyone could come into her room, she took some of the medicine, which was clearly having an effect and smiled at the sunshine brightening her room. Emily risked a deep breath to test her improvement and she coughed lightly, but it was a clear sign of her returning health. She was nowhere near previous strength, but she could tell that it was returning. Emily saw the pitcher of water and decided she wouldn't bother anyone. Shakily, Emily walked over to the pitcher, leaning against the wall for support. She took the pitcher, but immediately felt exhaustion take hold. Maybe she was over-estimating her abilities at the moment. Defeated, Emily slid down the wall and sat beside her dresser. She poured herself some water and took a few sips before closing her eyes. She was planning to just rest them for a minute and then head back to her bed, but instead she drifted off.

Once more the dining room was a mournful environment as the Dickinsons and Sue forced themselves to eat. Sue knew that the doctor's prediction not coming true the first night was a small miracle. Unfortunately based on Emily's condition yesterday Sue dreaded, like the rest of the family, that their fears had now come to pass. Maggie repeated the same unwanted rounds as yesterday, offering tea and food to the family that was pre-mourning the loss of Emily. After eating a portion of her food Sue stood from the table.

"I am going upstairs," Sue had a hundred unhelpful phrases drifting through her brain. She was thinking of saying things that were false like, perhaps Emily will be better this morning, or I'll tell you if she is up yet. All likely lies. Sue was also resisting the urge to say something brutally honest in the midst of her grief. Something along the lines of, I'll check on her but I doubt it'll take long, or, it's best that I go because I've been through this before. She didn't let any of those horrid things leave her lips though, and instead she simply left to go see what had come of Emily.

Sue stood at the bottom of the steps and stared up as if she was about to climb mount everest. In reality that was far from the truth but it didn't stop her from feeling that way. She felt sick and her stomach was turning. She wasn't really ill, it was just the idea that yesterday could have been her last day with Emily was making Sue shake. She was terrified. She couldn't lose Emily. Even if Austin did truly love her, Sue would never be able to love him back in the way he wanted. She'd only loved women in that way and one more so than the rest. The one who was possibly lying in her bed dead, just a brisk walk away. Using the railing, Sue dragged her shaking body up the stairs. She'd done this before. She'd walk into the room and Emily would look as though she was sleeping peacefully, the only difference would be the lack of her rising chest and the icy feel of skin. She would seem at peace even though every feeling of peace in your own body would be ripped away as the loss of the loved one sinks in. That's how it goes every time. Sue reached the door and prepared herself for the moment she'd relived a thousand times over with a different family member each time. She looked at her feet as she opened the door and it took so much of her strength to lift her head to look at the bed. Alarm immediately set in as Sue stared at Emily's empty bed. She was speechless and startled as her eyes dashed around the room until they settled on Emily's form. She was slumped down against the wall, her chin leaning on her chest and for a terrifying, heart-stopping moment she thought Emily was gone.

"Oh, Emily-" Sue wailed, as the reality of her worst nightmare hit her. Then Emily's eyes shot open and she began to blink rapidly as she once more adjusted to the level of light in the room.