A new life for Sofia

Chapter eighteen

[POV: Sofia]

It's 7:00. My alarm just woke me up. I feel like shit. My head hurts really bad, but I try to shake it off. After putting on clothes and making myself ready for the day, I go downstairs to make breakfast. Maya and Carina were already eating when I entered the kitchen.

''Hi bubs, how are you?'' Maya asks me. For some reason, I don't want people to know when I'm not feeling well, so I pretend I'm fine.

''I'm fine, thanks. Do we have anymore cereal left?'' I ask them.

''It's on the fridge, bambina.'' I grab the cereal and make myself a small bowl. I still feel like shit, but I manage to eat everything.

[POV: Carina]

Sofia doesn't look well. She looks tired, and she doesn't have a lot of color on her face.

''Are you sure you're okay, bambina? You look a little white.'' I put my hand on her forehead to see if she has a fever. She feels warm to me.

''Yeah, I'm fine.'' She replied. Her accent is thicker than usual. Me and Maya share a look.

''Well, I don't think you are. It's ok to not feel well.'' I tell her.

She looks irritated. ''Okay, but I feel fine.'' She looks away from us. We've noticed that she doesn't look us in the eyes whenever she speaks about something that's difficult for her. I think she's trying to act tough, but it's not working. Maya and I have known her long enough. We're not angry with her attitude, but we are concerned. She wasn't herself yesterday, and it looks like she isn't ok today as well.

''Can we please take you temperature bambina? If it's ok, you can go to school. Otherwise, you'll stay home with me.''

''Fine''

Maya disappears upstairs to look for a thermometer. A minute later, she's back with our first aid bag. It makes me chuckle. She's always prepared for the worst.

''You didn't have to bring the whole bag Maya.'' I smile at her, but she still looks concerned. She only looks at me, and then continues to search for the thermometer.

''Found it.'' She said, and she gives it to me. I then take Sofia's temperature.

''101.1°F'' I tell her and show her the screen.

She looks at me, annoyed again. ''What's that in Celsius?'' She asks me. I forgot she doesn't use Fahrenheit.

''It's about 38.4°C'' I tell her. I expected her to change her outfit and lay on the couch or something, but instead, she said: ''See, I'm fine.''

I give her a confused look, and so does Maya.

''What do you mean you're fine bubs? You have a fever.'' Maya tells her.

''Huh, my mom always said that fevers start at 38.7°C, and if it's between that and 38°C, then you're just a little sick, but you should go to school.'' She tells us. I'm shocked.

''Carina, what's 38.7°C in Fahrenheit?'' Maya asks me.

''It's almost 101.7°F.'' I look back at Sofia. ''Bambina, that's not ok. You have a fever. Please believe us.'' I tell her.

It looks like something clicks in her head, and she nods and walks to her room. Maya follows her.

[POV: Maya]

I'm so angry. This is just pure abuse. How can you let a child go to school with a fever of 101.7? I help Sofia change her clothes and I put her back to bed. I gave her some Tylenol, and I stayed with her until she went to sleep.

Carina is downstairs, calling Bailey. 

''Do you have the day off?'' I ask her.

''Yeah, I do.'' She answers. I nod. We're both thinking the same thing. Sometimes, we don't realize the amount of abuse that happened in Sofia's daily life. She doesn't talk about it, but that might be because she doesn't realize she's been abused.

We cuddle on the couch for a minute, until it's time for me to go to work.

I give her a passionate kiss. ''If anything happens, you call me, Okay?'' I tell her. She nods and I leave for work.

[POV: Carina]

It's 10am now. Sofia is still in bed. I've been working on my study for two and a half hours now. I decided to check on her. When I entered her room, she was still fast asleep, so I get back to work again. Two hours later, she walks into the living room.

''Hey piccolina, how are you feeling?'' She moves over to cuddle with me. It's something she doesn't do often, and although she's not feeling well, I enjoy the moment.

''I'm fine.'' She tells me, which I do not believe, since she feels even warmer than this morning.

''Can I check your temperature again bambina?'' I ask and she nods.

''It went up to 38.9°C (about 102°F) bambina. How about I make us both a smoothie. We could watch a movie or take a nap afterwards?'' She nods.

I quickly make us both a smoothie with spinach, banana, coconut and pear. We drink it together, on the couch, while watching an episode of Friends. I must say, I'm glad I have the day off. I've been feeling a bit under the radar the last few days. Being pregnant is a blessing, but I'll be happy when the morning sickness stops.

''Do you want to take a nap with me bambina?'' I ask her. She nods and we go up to me and Maya's room. For the second time in two days, she is asleep in our bed.

[POV: Maya]

It's 8:30 when I open the front door. Carina texted me at 1pm that her and Sofia were going to take a nap, and that Sofia's temperature went up a little. Other than that, I have no idea how they are both doing.

Carina is in the living room.

''Hey babe, how are you?'' I put my coat away and take a seat next to her on the couch.

''I'm fine bella. How was your day?'' She gives me a kiss.

''Uneventful. How is Sofia?'' The truth is I've been thinking about Sofia all day. I've never experienced this before, but I actually wanted to stay home today to take care of her.

''She's ok. Her fever was still 102.0°F an hour ago and she had some Tylenol then. I think it's just a fever, but we should keep a close eye on her.'' Carina explains. I love how she gets in her doctor mode even when Sofia is sick.

''There is some soup in the fridge for you.''

After just being with each other for about an hour, we decide to check on Sofia. She's been asleep since 8. Her fever has come down a bit, so that's comforting.

Fifteen minutes later, we're both in bed.

''When should we tell Soof that we're having twins?'' I ask Carina. Carina is about ten weeks pregnant now. I love how her stomach is already a bit bigger.

''I don't know. I feel like we should do it soon though. I don't like to keep things from her.''

''No, I agree.''

''Do you want to find out the gender when it's possible?'' Carina asks me after five minutes of silence.

''I would like that, but if you don't want to, we can wait until birth.'' I tell her. I don't like surprises, so the sooner I know the gender the better.

''I want to find out as well, but no gender reveal party.''

''Alright then. Goodnight Carina. I love you.'' I give her a quick kiss.

''Buonanotte bambina. Ti amerò per sempre.'' I still feel like a love-struck teenager every time she speaks to me in Italian. I turn of the lights, and I hope that Sofia feels better tomorrow. 

.....

Quick little sick fic! Thank you for reading.