Scream at the drunken moon

Chapter 10

I had no idea Charlie felt like this. Physical pain is one thing but mental torment is another, much scarier type of pain. I pick her up and carry her back to our bed where I lie her down before getting in next to her. I lean over and kiss her with the tiniest kisses I can, all over her face, then her neck.
"Charlie, we will get through this together. You're not alone sweetheart."
She sighs so I kiss her again. I need to make her feel better. I love her and want nothing more than to make her feel loved. She's so weak today though it's pretty scary. She can barely hold her head up off the pillow and her pills aren't helping her much. Maybe she needs to see a doctor who can give her something else? I have no idea if there is anything else.
Charlie falls back to sleep and so I don't disturb her, I quietly get dressed and head into the lounge to tidy up after last night. It seems the guys did a lot while we were at the hospital so there's not a huge amount for me to do. I gather all the laundry and start on that before flicking the TV on and finding a film to watch. I must have started dozing off because I jump in the air when I hear a knock on the door. I jump up quickly so whoever it is doesn't disturb Charlie and open up to find my mom there. I give her a hug and she comes in, immediately looking around, for Charlie I assume.
"Where is she?" my mom asks.
"Asleep mom. She's not very well today."
"Yes. Hangovers aren't very nice are they."
"She wasn't drinking. Her medication doesn't go with alcohol."
"Well why did she fall over then?"
"She was exhausted because she's ill and did too much and when she was helping bring the food through, she lost her balance. She wasn't drunk."
"Hmm. I'm not convinced."
I leave it at that. My mom isn't going to listen to me anyway.
"Tony, I was wondering if you could help me move some stuff around at home. It's too much for me to do alone and Becca is in school." I nod. I tell her I'm going to tell Charlie and when I go in she's awake but not moving.
"My mom needs me to help her at hers for a couple of hours. Will you be ok if I go?"
She gives the tiniest of nods and I kiss her gently before heading off, following my mom in my car.
It turns out a couple of hours turned into more - nearer 5 to be exact. A couple of hours after I got there, my moms neighbour, Rita, came around with her daughter, Lisa. She's a couple of years younger than me and I hadn't seen her in a long time. I'm not sure if my mom is up to something but it did seem a bit suspicious, them just appearing like that. I hope she's seriously not trying to pair us up because she dislikes Charlie. To be fair, Lisa is gorgeous and if I wasn't with Charlie I would consider dating her, but I am with Charlie - engaged to Charlie - for a reason and my mom needs to accept it.
When I get home I see Mike's car on the drive. I gave him a spare key months ago and I go inside to find him and Alysha sitting on the sofa with Charlie. She is still dreadfully pale but a little brighter than earlier.
"Hey beautiful" I whisper as I sit next to her. She smiles at me and my heart melts. She is definitely the woman I want to spend my life with. Illness or not, we will get through this.