The Curiosities Concerning Fate

∷ Chapter 6 ∷

"THAT DIDN'T TAKE long at all," Mike commented as he drove to Mr Mint's after fetching Adine from the hospital.

"I was there for a routine check so it didn't take long," Adine explained. "He asked a bunch of questions and then I was free to leave."

She didn't enjoy keeping secrets from him, but the truth of this particular matter was one she could not divulge. She knew that he would not be thrilled should he discover her weakened health in recent years. Sometimes, it was better to keep such information to herself. Especially when she knew he'd only kick up a fuss if he was let in on her little secret.

"And the cuts?" he asked, slowing the car to a stop in front of the confectionery. "The nurse took care of it?"

"Good as new," she responded, showing him the coarse material on her arms.

"Good," he said. "That's good."

There was no sign of animosity between them and yet, the conversation seemed forced; awkward, even. Though they'd already arrived, neither felt the need to part ways, not before addressing the elephant in the room, at least.

"So . . ." Mike started, taking it upon himself to get the ball rolling.

"So," Adine repeated, waiting for the bomb to drop.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on, or . . . ?" he asked, causing her to sigh despite herself.

The reaction was reason enough for him to burst into a flurry of explanations that justified his apparent neediness in knowing the goings-on in her life.

"I mean, you don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to, but I'm your friend, and I tend to worry about things like this. Heck, I am worried. Especially if you don't tell me anything even though you're acting weird about it and—"

He stopped, the rush of words that had tumbled from him as a result of his worry coming to a sudden halt. He exhaled.

And then he asked almost imploringly, "Adine, are you sick?"

The question, asked in such a straightforward manner, left her speechless as she found herself unable to say anything in her defence. She stared at him, entirely dumbstruck, the cogs in her brain whirring at a slowed speed as her choices alternated rapidly between lying and telling the truth.

In her moment of malfunction, Mike said, "You're not going to tell me, are you?"

"Mike—"

"No, it's fine," he interrupted. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

He stopped, a bitter chuckle leaving him before he said, "I'd rather you not tell me than have you lie about it."

Adine felt the twist of the knife in her gut upon hearing his words, the pain intensified by the truth that kept the weapon weighted. It was impossible to lie to him, they had been friends for far too long. She knew he would've figured out the truth sooner or later, but the burden of it was not something she wanted to share.

Still, she couldn't help the feelings of guilt that manifested themselves within her despite having yet to admit his suspicions aloud.

"Mike," she tried again. "I need you to understand that I never intended to lie to you or keep the truth from you. It's just . . . I'm not ready to share this with you, with anyone. Believe me, if there comes a time when I am, you're the first person I'd go running to."

Mike stared at her in silence for a few seconds before he nodded his head, a soft exhale leaving his lips.

"I'm sorry," he said at last. "I freaked out thinking something was wrong with you and when you wouldn't clarify, my mind came up with all these horrible scenarios of you dying."