Basketcase

The Cycle

"All the hallways, until the thirtieth floor, are clear of girls," I informed pushing through the door way, a silent scrunching and squishing sound between my legs causing discomfort and unpleasantness. I stopped in front of the doorway, unwedging the strip of diaper that stuck to my underwear by intended tape and my thighs with building sweat. I continued on into the room, wandering, searching for Marissa's mob of hair, stressing around the room as she was where I'd left her.

A hand waved over the opposing unseen bedside, "Over here," she said slowing clutching the blankets and bed sheets to assist in lifting herself from the ground.

I took my time waddling over to the bed, making an effort not to wedge the pad up my alley. "How on earth do you walk in this thing?" I asked turning and squatting my butt over the bed before letting it touch the mattress. It sunk in with my weight and bounced with me as I sat down.

It bounced again as Marissa joined, "What do you mean?" she asked, patting down and straightening the covers as she stripped the bed to do a thorough check.

I eyed her slightly, "What do I mean?" I repeated, watching her stretch down off the side of the bed reaching for something, her bag most likely. I paused before continuing, "I mean how do you with stand this extra pain in your pants?" I asked twisting over to the left side, facing her, "I mean, other than blood being spewed and staining what every you wear over your waist forever but the half-a diaper you have to deal with so your pants don't get soiled-"-my stomach gargled, a discomforting pain following, stretching across my upper and lower abdomen-"and these killer pains," I ached.

"Oh, it's not so bad, you just need to get use to it," she replied pulling out a palm size white capsule, and shaking it to gain my attention, "Do want something for it?" she asked.

I looked at her more directly but with a more plain unimpressed expression, "Is this really necessary?" I asked.

"Yes," she replied firmly.

I sighed emotionlessly, "No, I don't think so," I said awkwardly.

"Okay, good," she said and went back down, leaning over the bed. I took my chance and quickly crawled the distance towards her and gave a light push of encouragement. She fell knee first off the bed, giving a small pointless scream as she hit the ground almost instantaneously. "Ryan!" she whined leaning on her palms to heave herself back on her knees, balancing the weight.

"What?" I asked innocently, tilting my head to the side slightly giving a plain soft expression.

She shook her head, laughing softly and continued rummaging through her bag. Becoming unamused, I crawled back on the bed, lying on the pillows and stare on at the ceiling. "Well, I guess it's okay," I said, beginning to speak my mind freely, I paused. "I mean, it's only for today right?" I said laughing softly and smiling.

A sudden burst of laughter sprung from off the side of the bed, "Are you kidding me?" Marissa laughed, calming herself slowly with self sooth, "Pfft, a day... she thinks it's a day," she mumbled hysterically.

I slouched over with my arm hitching me up, "It is only a day right?" I asked for confirmation, switching my weight over to my left hand to view Marissa. She continued to laugh humbly, making quick comments to herself and laughing some more. "Marissa?" I interrupted, strangely annoyed, "Stop laughing!"

Her head turn to me and settled, smiling calmly and wiped her cheek. "No, Ryan, it doesn't just last a day," she informed, scratching her hair and shyly messing it into a thin ball.

"Then how..." I wondered, staring with complete attention.

"A week," she imputed.

My eyes widened in shock, "A what!" I questioned.

"At least," she added, moving back into her bag actions, "For some women it lasts two weeks and then skip a month or a week and a half or shorter... come to think of it I should be getting mine," she said, pondering on her last thought.

I paused thinking, "Hold on a second, 'skip a month'? Does that mean it happens every month?" I asked.

"Yeah? You know it's the discarded-"

"I know what it is!" I cut in. I huffed out a deep breath, leaning back on both hands and then dropping back down onto the pillows and over the covers. My stomach stirred, "I just don't feel like doing anything!" I yelled out, straining myself, "I just have no energy," I sighed, inhaling and exhaling slowly.

"Energy..." Marissa commented, slowly trailing off, "Energy..."

"Yeah," I agreed, sighing again and staring at the ceiling, "Gah! I have a head ach."

"Right! Energy!" she said, boosting herself off the ground, "You are loosing blood! Loosing iron! You need energy! Food!" She blurted, she stomped loudly over and out of view as my eye refused to follow involving energy to do so. "Food!" she repeated, the sounds of cupboards opening and closing with various slams. "We don't have any!" she exclaimed, she walked over to the bedside, "We don't have any!" she said again.

"You just said that..." I responded, not moving.

"I will go find some! Iron!" she said, "Yes! Iron!"-she slapped her fist into her hand-"Ryan needs iron!" She spun on her feet, directing herself towards the door and walking. The sound of metal being gripped and clung as being turned, whipped open in one swift move and shut with another. It was much quieter, a very pleasing quiet.

The doorknob turned and swung open, Marissa standing there, caught my attention. "I will go through the fire escape!" she announced, stepping in the room, "Because I do not want anyone coming in here! Anyone!" she insisted, "Er... except for me..." she added, slamming the door slut and locking it, quickly changing direction and running out the other side of the room, presumable to the window with the fire escape. The room silenced itself. A silence that I now did enjoy, desirably without any more disturbances.