It was the best time of my life

Chapter 26

I wake up in my bed and I can vaguely remember Charlie making me sleep my hangover off. I roll over and slowly stand up. At least the room isn't spinning anymore. I make my way through to the kitchen to get a drink of water and I hear what sounds like Charlie crying in her room. Charlie doesn't cry. Not once in the months I've known her have I heard or seen her cry. Apart from through laughter but this isn't a laughing cry. I knock gently on the door and poke my head around it. She's curled up on the bed, covers over her and clutching a pink, cuddly toy cat. She told me it's called Bagpuss after a TV show she watched as a kid. I run over and pull her into my arms.
"What's up darling?" I ask, worried sick.
"I've just got off the phone to my dad. My mam's not very good" she mumbles. What does she mean by not very good?
"What's happened?" I ask, desperate to reassure her.
"Over Christmas she didn't know who I was the first day I was back. She thought I was her dead sister and kept calling me Julie. She's been dead over 8 years, but the next day she knew I was me. My dad said she couldn't find her shoes today and was getting upset about it but they were on her feet the whole time. Her mam had Alzheimer's and I think she's got it too. My dad is taking her to the doctor in two days to see what they can do."
I stroke her hair and hold her close to me. She must be terrified.
We stay like that for an hour or so before my rumbling stomach breaks the silence and makes Charlie giggle. She pokes me gently in the stomach and sits up before climbing off the bed and pulling me after her. She's still dressed in her shorts and t shirt so she just pulls on her boots and leads me down to the sandwich shop around the corner. We order takeaway sandwiches and get back to our room to have a carpet picnic. We have put on Monsters Inc to lighten the mood and I sit on the floor with my back against the sofa and Charlie in between my legs, my arms draped over her shoulders, hugging her. She's laughing away at Sully and I smile, knowing she's trying not to be upset about something that's out of anyone's control.
She falls asleep like that and after a spot of wriggling, I manage to get out from behind her and scoop her up, carrying her to her bed. I lay her down and wrap my arms around her as she snuggles up to me. I kiss her forehead and just hold her, wanting to make everything better.
When I wake up the next day, Charlie is still asleep for once. She mentioned having to work today but not until lunchtime and it's currently 10am. I'll wake her up in another hour if she hasn't woke up by herself. I make myself a coffee and I'm sitting on the sofa, flicking through my notes for class tomorrow when I see Charlie's bedroom door opening and her walking towards me.
"Hey" she whispers. She's obviously been awake a while as she's changed her clothes but I didn't hear her. My bad. She flops down next to me on the couch and puts her head on my lap. My hand automatically goes to stroke her hair and she smiles up at me.
"How are you feeling today?" I ask.
"Lost" she admits. I don't know what I'd do in that situation so I don't know what to do or say but she squeezes my hand to let me know it's ok. She sighs and reaches over to take a swig of my coffee before pushing herself up off the sofa and pulling her boots on, ready to leave for work I guess. But it's too early.
"You don't start for ages. You'll be too early" I say.
"I have a couple of errands to run first" she explains as she grabs her bag, takes another gulp of my coffee, kisses me softly on the lips and turns to go.