Aurora

The Buzz

Aurora woke up with a start and sat up in bed. Her head felt heavy and she felt uncomfortably cold. The fever that had been building up for a while now had peaked last night. 

"I made you breakfast." Don was holding a tray in his hand as he walked in.

She saw the optimistic fullness of the tray and was reminded of last week, when she had cooked for him.

"I don't think I can eat a lot, honey."

"I don't expect you to. It's mostly juice. And fruits."

There had not been much talking since last week. It had been oppressive for Aurora, though she had no idea how Don felt. He still had been late as ever, way past 5 which had been his usual time to be home before his project. He worked management at a posh security company which manufactured security systems for the really rich people. His was office work and he had never been later than 5. For the last three months he had been coming home late, his reason being a project on an improvement in their systems. The feeling was slowly creeping on her that after five years of a blissful marriage, he just didn't like being home anymore. She was an architect who was currently working on the construction site of a hospital. For some days now, her co-workers had been asking her if she was okay.

"It's just that you're looking slightly pale recently." Paul said yesterday, scrutinizing her face.

"Pale?" Shawna exclaimed, "She looks positively pasty. Honey, you should go home. We'll handle it here. You look like you need a good long rest."

She had to agree. When Don found her at 12 that night, half-conscious, she was drowning in her own sweat, mumbling incoherent words and crying. No wonder he's so pitying now, I must've looked pathetic last night, she thought as she saw him set the table before her.

"Eat up." he said and went to the bathroom. She noticed that even though it was 9 o' clock, he hadn't dressed up for work yet.

"Why aren't you dressed up yet? I did the laundry yesterday, there are clean shirts in your cabinet."

He peeked out from the bathroom. He was grinning. 

"I'm taking a leave today."

She grinned through the toast she had in her mouth.

She stared down at the food in her tray. She was feeling hungry after all. She dived for her fourth piece of toast and sipped on orange juice.

"You didn't have to." she said in a small voice, grimacing at the insincerity clear in her voice.

After a good fifteen minutes he walked out dripping in water. He was shirtless and was buttoning his faded blue jeans. He was one of those people who always looked ten years lesser than their age. He could be anywhere between 21 and 31. His dark hair were dripping. Her eyes followed a drop of water trail down his chest down the v at his front and absorbed into his jeans.

"Seen a towel?" she was broken from her reverie. He was watching her watching him with his iconic naughty smile.

"With the heat in this room, you will dry up in no time." she smiled back.

"I know a couple ways we could raise the temperature here." he took two steps towards her bed, his eyes growing two tones darker.

"Don. I'm having breakfast."

"I know." he sighed.

He began combing his hair in lazy strokes.

"Aren't you going to put a shirt on I've-"

"-washed them all yesterday, I know Rory. I thought you liked me shirtless."

"Trust me. I'm not complaining." she chuckled, putting the tray aside.

"Done?" he turned around.

"Thank you."

He put the tray on the side table.

"What the hell, man? What are- why-?" he was lifting her up in his arms.

"Shush woman, you'll alarm the neighbors."

"not okay... not okay... not okay" she kept mumbling to herself as he reached the stairs.

"I'm not going to drop you and you know it." she tied her arms securely around his neck and held him tighter.

It reminded her of the time when he had carried her to their bedroom on their wedding night. She could not help but giggle. 

She woke up at the sound of phone ringing. She was lying on the sofa with her head in Don's lap. He was dozing off against the sofa too.

The phone buzzed on the glass. She picked it up. It said "Delia" on the caller Id. Suddenly, Don woke up with a start and took the phone from her.

"Hey!" she called out as her head hit the sofa cushion. But Don was already out. 

"Hi." he seemed apologetic and distressed, she observed him through the glass door that divided the living room from the drawing room.

He was pacing, shaking his head and running his hand through his hair, successfully tousling it.

"What's wrong?" she mouthed when he saw her.

He stepped back in. "They want me to show up."

"Really?" she couldn't hide the despair in her voice.

"I know. I don't want to leave you either. This sucks." but he was halfway up the stairs.

She fell back on the cushions with a huff. She suddenly wasn't feeling so good again. Recently she'd been like that. Out of control. Most of the time she wanted to bawl her eyes out and this often had everything to do with Don. She blinked back her tears. 

So much for some time together, she sighed mentally.

"Bye, hon. I'll try to get back before 5, okay? take care."

As soon as he was gone, she noticed his phone buzzing on the glass table. He'd forgotten it.

It was a message from Delia.