Why Not Live?

Chapter Eleven - Getting Sick

Charly's POV

Charly sighed and dropped her head into her hands as she heard the front door slam closed. She probably shouldn't have let him leave; he seemed upset when she basically kicked him out. But she couldn't let him see her like this. She had been fine, better than fine really. She'd been great.

And then the pain hit.

Her whole body started to ache and her head was pounding. She felt her stomach starting to twist in uncomfortable ways and she knew what was coming. She tried to jump off the bed and run to the bathroom, but as soon as her feet hit the floor she felt dizzy. The whole room started to spin. "Shit," She mumbled to herself, holding her head in her hands. She took one step and lurched forward slightly, reaching out to lean against the wall. This had happened before, it was all part of the cancer. But it had never come this fast, it had never hit this hard all at once.

Her mouth started watering and her stomach clenched painfully as she felt the contents of her stomach already making its way up her throat. Oh, no.

She stumbled out of her room, ignoring the pounding in her head and how dizzy she felt as she pushed herself forward. She kept one hand on the wall, holding her up, and the other pressed to her mouth. She willed it to stay down until she made it to the bathroom and lifted the toilet seat, when she could no longer hold it back.

Afterwards she shakily reached out to flush the toilet before collapsing on the floor, breathing heavily. She closed her eyes tightly and moaned. She felt terrible. Normally when she was sick, throwing up made it better. But this was different. It didn't make her feel better, only worse. She felt empty, but her body still convulsed, trying to throw up what wasn't even there. She groaned again, it was only going to get worse from here.

She shoved her hair back, knowing she was going to have to take a shower and wash it out. She hadn't had time to put it up, nor had she really cared. It had happened before and she was starting to get used to it; just like she was used to the terrible taste in her mouth and the ache in her joints.

She turned her head to the side and let her face press against cool tile floor, she already felt a little cold, but the feeling soothed her anyway.

Then she heard the front door open.

Her eyes shot opened, was Nathan back? She debated on whether or not to attempt to get up. She knew what would happen if she did, she would only get very dizzy and fall again, it happened every time if she tried to stand too soon. That would only make him think worse, right? She had already told him she didn't feel well, so for her to be throwing up would seem normal. She hoped.

She was over thinking this. Way over thinking it. She was only getting herself worked up and if Nathan came in now he would definitely think there was something more wrong than just a simple stomach virus. If she freaked out he would figure it out, so she just needed to calm down.

The door closed back and she could hear whoever it was making their way down the hall. She took a deep breath and struggled to scoot up and lean against the bath tub. "Nathan?" She called, her voice coming out a little weak and raspy. Damnit.

"Nope, Joey," her brother's voice came to her just before he appeared in the doorway. His eyes darkened as he took in the sight of her half naked on the bathroom floor. She knew she looked bad, her hair messy and tangled with throw up in some places. She was probably pale and still a little shaky.

His lips pressed into a hard line as he picked up a towel off the rack and draped it over her. This wasn't the first time he'd walked in on her throwing up, though she was pretty sure it was the first time he'd walked in on her half naked and throwing up. He reached up and pressed his hand on the side of her face. "You okay?" He asked gently.