A kiss for Ree

Chapter 12|Sick

...

I woke up feeling out of sorts and pallid. I could only breathe in shallow gasps, as if I were languid. I felt peaked from head to toe, like someone had sucked out a large part of my soul and left only a minuscule portion, hardly enough to fuel my existence.

My alarm had gone off long ago, but I couldn't lift a single bone. A bath wasn't even on my list. All I wanted was to lie under the covers. I think my Ree Ree powers are gone.

Inside me something boiled, as if a thermostat had been turned up; heat built and churned, and I felt feverish. Yet on the outside I was cold, almost freezing. A total contrast.

I'm sick!

I groaned and managed to switch sides on the bed. Gosh, I hadn't even prayed Subhi. My bones felt as if they were melting. I was too weak to get out of bed.

Tears stung the backs of my eyes. I squeezed them shut, trying to stop them, but I failed. My head throbbed; I felt weak and helpless-every shade of less.

Am I dying? I sobbed silently. Is this the end of my life? Tears streamed down my cheeks and soaked into my pillow. Will I make it to heaven-or end up in hell? Do I even have ongoing charity to speak for me? I don't even have a righteous child! I haven't passed down knowledge to anyone at all. What if it's hell? Then I won't get to see my mom...

My door suddenly flung open, heavy footsteps banging against my skull.

"Ree, we've been waiting for you! Ahhhh!" Omar exclaimed as if he'd stepped on a nail. "You haven't gotten out of bed? So you're not ready yet? Ree, is this a prank? Or have you started TikTok pranks too?"

He yanked the covers away from me, catching sight of my closed eyes and the tears trailing down my face.

"Did someone break your heart? Or are you dying?" he yelled the last part before bolting out of my room. The door creaked open behind him-I wished I had the strength to shout for him to close it.

Arrgghhh. I barely ever fall sick; this felt so strange. Curling into a ball, I hugged my knees to my chest.

Suddenly my chest constricted, pain searing through me. A burning sensation spread, pulling at my middle as if hot metal were dragging my chest apart. Is this it? Is my soul leaving my body?

"Ree, are you okay?" I couldn't possibly count how many times Lila had said that since the day we met.

I cried harder, louder this time despite the storm raging in my chest. "No."

"Oh, you're burning!" She flinched as her hand touched my forehead, then lifted me gently into a sitting position.

My nightcap slipped off, and my mass of black hair spilled loose, forming a wide afro around my head. I wanted to rip the whole mess out that instant.

"We'd better get a doctor." She propped me against the bed frame, wiped my teary face with her hand. "I'll get you tissues, okay? I'll be back in a moment." She rushed out.

Omar and Levi peered into the room. "Can we come in?" Levi asked.

I said nothing, just grabbed the blanket and dove back under.

"Sorry, Ree," someone murmured, massaging my head.

"Maybe we shouldn't go to school," Omar added. I stayed quiet and kept crying. They sat at the tip of the bed whispering, "Sorry."

"Here you go, dear." Lila slid the covers back from my face and wiped my cheeks with tissue. "I've called a good doctor I know-he's a close friend. He'll be here soon."

"You two should get going to school," she said, helping me sit up again.

"No, we want to stay and take care of Ree. We can help if she needs something," Omar insisted.