Long Time Gone

Chapter 14

My heartbreak and my numbed mind, finally caught onto my health the very next morning. When I woke up, I felt my head heavy enough that I could not lift it off my pillow. My eyes and nose were running, and my body ached like hell. Several seconds into this condition- I realized that my body had surrendered to an inevitable fever.

Somewhere near the noon, a physician was summoned by Mrs Vanderbilt. He declared my sickness to be very severe, restricting me to a bed-rest and prohibiting any work. Therefore, I was excused from my job for a whole week- a news which made Mr and Mrs Vanderbilt sour.

They expressed their worry over the disturbance of Limelight's scheduled plays and performances, totally disregarding my fever. I was too tired and sick to argue with them- hence I gave them a silent treatment, which ultimately angered Mr Vanderbilt. Only Williams was supportive, but just. He was allowed by the physician to constantly stay with me and feed me spoonfuls of soup occasionally- a job which could've been easily handled by a housemaid but Mister insisted.

Unfortunately, my fever did not last for a week, like the physician suggested. It stretched on for weeks, and apparently, I was healing on a snail slow speed. My mind and heart had just given up with my physique. Too much crying with a significant heartbreak led to such circumstances.

The news of my sickness reached Limelight, and eventually, the rumors about the fever- and even my probable death- started circulating the streets of New York. Such were the bigmouths the theatergoers.

One day, Mrs Vanderbilt came to my bedroom and seated herself at least a ten feet distance from me. She informed me about how her friends and business affiliates worried about my health and if whether I'll live to continue to work for Limelight or not. She insisted that the tabloids were truly intending to kill me- for every new rumor was linked with my death by the hands of a fever.

Afterwards, with a peculiar interest in my health, Mrs Vanderbilt suddenly asked with an incline of her head, "My dear, if you don't mind me asking- are you doing good? I mean, before the sickness, you were awfully quite, and the sockets of your eyes always looked swollen. Is everything alright? What's on your mind?"

I simply stared at her as a response. It appeared that she finally caught onto my disruptive mental health, after years of silently struggling with it.

A sudden lump formed in my throat and I replied with a shaky voice, "Nothing's wrong, Mrs Vanderbilt. It's just the sickness."

"That's not it- is it? I know a person is feeling distraught by a single look on their saddened features. I've learned that with years of living with Jack! Now- tell me, what is it?"

I sighed, closing my eyes. I was really unable to control my tears in such a vulnerable condition. Hence, a single tear slid down the corner of my eye- thankfully unnoticeable to Mrs Vanderbilt's gaze.

"It's....nothing, honestly." I said with a thick voice.

"There's something definitely."

"I assure you, madam. It's nothing. Don't worry yourself."

"Is it a problem that I can help with?" She piped, raising her pencilled eyebrows and adding with an amused smile, "Perhaps a boy problem?"

My silence on the statement gave away that it was indeed a boy problem. Mrs Vanderbilt clicked her tongue in delight, getting up from her seat and sitting by my side in order to discuss in secrecy. "So, it's a boy, isn't it?"

I closed my eyes in dread. Here goes nothing. "Yes, madam." I barely whispered.

She excitedly cooed, brushing auburn strands off my forehead. "Aw- my darling! You're not the only one who deals with boy problems! I do too! So tell me, who is this problematic boy and why is he bothering my star?"