At Luxford Academy, the elite boarding school for the ultra-rich, Adriana and Nicholas have been bitter rivals since childhood. Forced to live in the same dorm, their once-friendly pranks have escalated into daily clashes-sharp insults, constant bic...
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I stared at the screen of my phone, watching Adeline's face come into focus. She looked more tired than usual, her eyes heavy and her smile not quite reaching her eyes. COPD was taking its toll, and I could see it in every slow blink and every sigh she tried to mask.
"Hey, how's it going?" I asked, forcing a cheerful tone into my voice.
"Hey," she replied, her voice soft and a bit breathless. "I'm alright. Just a bit tired."
I nodded, trying to keep my own concern out of my expression. "You should really take it easy. I know things have been rough, but just remember to rest when you need to."
"I know," she said, her voice growing a bit weaker. "I'm trying."
"That's good," I said, giving her a reassuring smile. "I'm sure you're doing everything you can. Just stay positive and don't push yourself too hard. We all want you to get better."
Adeline nodded, though she looked like she was struggling to stay awake. "Thanks. I'm trying to stay optimistic."
"That's the spirit," I said, trying to keep the conversation light. "Just make sure to get plenty of rest. That's the most important thing right now."
We chatted about small things, trying to keep the conversation away from her health. I could see her fighting fatigue, but I didn't want to make her feel worse by mentioning it. Instead, I focused on the good things and tried to uplift her as much as I could.
"Anyway," I continued, "have you started any new shows or books lately? Anything to keep your mind off things?"
"Actually," she said, her eyes brightening slightly, "I've been reading this new book. It's pretty good."
"That's great!" I said, genuinely happy to hear her talk about something she enjoyed. "I've heard that book is really good. What do you think of it so far?"
We continued talking about her book and other small topics, and I watched as she slowly perked up, if only a little. When the conversation came to an end, I made sure to remind her once more.
"Don't forget to rest," I said softly. "And remember, I'm always here if you need to talk."
"I will. Thanks for the call," she said, a small smile touching her lips.
"Anytime," I replied, giving her one last smile before we ended the call.
As I set my phone down, I couldn't shake the concern that lingered. I wished there was more I could do, but for now, I'd hold on to the hope that my words of encouragement might offer her some comfort.
Sighing I got up from my bed and went to get ready.
We don't have school today and I have to start preparing my next flight for tomorrow cause I'm going to Paris.
I went straight to the bathroom to take a shower.
Turning on the tap and making sure it's the right temperature, I took off my clothes and got in.
