Deep in my heart

Chapter 10: Role Reversal

She wheeled over next to him and that's when she saw his face was red and caked with sweat. She said"Oh my god are you okay? should I call management and get someone in here to help you?" Jeremy said in a weak voice" No...give me a few minutes...just a few minutes, I'll be fine".Elaenna said, "Like hell you are, you're burning up and need medical attention". Jeremy sat up and walked back over to the kitchen and said"No, I'll be fine, I took medicine and I'll push through it". Elaenna yelled"No" and he said, "I don't have a choice...you need me and I promised I'd always be there and dammit I will!"

Elaenna sighed and said, "You know very well I understand...you're being too hard on yourself now rest".Jeremy said"No, I've never gotten so sick that I couldn't perform my duties for my clients and I don't intend to start now!" Elaenna sighed and said"Rest now or I'll call management right now" Jeremy said"please don't...I'll be fine I promise" as tears rolled down his cheeks. Elaenna said"Are you one strike away from being fired or something?" he said"No" and Elaenna said, "Tell me right now or I will call".

He stumbled back over to the couch where Elaenna was and sat down next to her. As soon as he did, Elaenna grabbed him, laid his head on her lap, and gently stroked his hair. She smiled and said, "Just relax and tell me what's going on... don't forget that I'm here to support you too". Jeremy blushed hard before Elaenna realized what she had said and quickly blurted out" All humans should uplift each other when they need it s-so that's what I'm doing".Jeremy stretched his legs out before releasing a sigh and saying"After my mother died...I felt guilty like I could've done more if only I had utilized my time better. I guess in a way I wanted to make up for my failure to keep her here longer by helping others get well".

He continued and said"I've never stopped and thought about myself or made time for things like hobbies, romance, and my future after I graduated because in truth this all I see myself doing...I don't know how to stop and I guess I'm afraid of becoming useless".Elaenna smiled and said"You had me fooled...here you are every day, smiling and cheerful despite holding that pain inside you...I find that amazing". Elaenna wiped his tears and said" Unfortunately today, you're going to have to face your fears and rest...I'll be the one to take care of you, so just tell me what you need". Jeremy said"b-but y- " and before he could finish Elaenna said" just because I'm in a wheelchair and missing a few memories doesn't mean I can't care for you. I still remember how to do everything so I'll manage just fine thank you".

Jeremy sighed and said"Fine, take this key and open the closet at the end of the hall; it's a medicine locker. Look on the bottom shelf for a zip-lock bag with thin, green, and white boxes that'll say Azithromycin on it. Grab me one and a bottle of water out of the fridge". Elaenna nodded before taking the key and doing as he asked before returning to the living room. Elaenna handed him the medicine and water before saying"Why do we have a medicine vault in our hallway?" Jeremy said"Relax there are no serious drugs in there...the big stuff is kept in the main pharmacy"

He smiled and said"The stuff in there is just low level like antibiotics, nausea medicine, poison control, and extreme first aid kits. Every time that door is opened an alarm triggers and an infrared camera documents what was removed". Elaenna says"Oh, well are you hungry?" Jeremy said "Not really as Elaenna wheeled herself to the kitchen and miraculously stood up and grabbed a few cans of soup and left them down for her to grab later on. Cooking the simple meal of soup required standing and stretching but Elaenna managed to get it done as Jeremy watched her stand up for a few seconds before flopping back down and trying again.

After a few minutes, she had gathered everything, warmed his soup, and had brought it to him by driving her chair. Jeremy looked at her puzzled as he sat up and grabbed the food. Elaenna said, "This chair is a hybrid they gave me which I never thought I would need but I guess I'll be lazy and use it for a bit".Once Jeremy finished eating, Elaenna helped him to his room and made him lie down. Once she returned to her own room, she called her auntie and asked for a few things to be sent to her room which she kindly agreed to without asking questions.

A couple of hours later, a tall black man in a gray suit arrived and dropped off the groceries and Jeremy's gift. Elaenna hugged him and said"Thanks Mr. Cello and he smiled and said"Sorry, I didn't think you remembered me". She smiled and said"Of course, I'm gonna remember the guy who taught me how to drive and helped me study hard for college".He smiled and said"call me sometime and I wish you a healthy and speedy recovery". Elaenna said"thanks and I hope to see you guys soon". She stood up and hugged him one more time before waving him off and closing the door.

Elaenna rode into the kitchen and put the groceries in their respective places before grabbing the last bag and taking it with her to Jeremy's room. When she opened the door and rode in, she saw Jeremy sprawled across his bed all lopsided, caked in sweat, and shivering at the same time. She rode over to his bed and tried shaking him which woke him up but he didn't seem to be actively aware of his surroundings and it was at that moment that she knew what she'd have to do.