Senses

Ch. 8

Just when I thought I was okay, just as I tried to get up, I froze completely and everything went black. It was like I was underwater; I heard a muffled voice. It could've lasted seconds, it could have lasted minutes, but eventually the voice became clear. "Mari honey, Mari," the voice called. I came to with my head in my mom's lap and her gently rubbing my forehead. "Hi Mama," I croaked, my voice catching in my throat along with the air I tried to suck in. I started to cough and she sat me up, rubbing my back. "How about you go change and take your night meds and I'll order pizza? We can stay down here tonight," she suggested. I agreed because I was too tired to argue. She helped me up and went to the kitchen to use the phone while I went to my room. I changed into my old dance academy sweatshirt and a pair of shorts before grabbing two out of the five prescription bottles off of my nightstand. I let my hair down and shook it out, taking a pill from each bottle then heading back downstairs. I grabbed a bottled water from the fridge and opened it, taking my medicine and chugging half the bottle. Mama was just getting off the phone with the pizza place when I settled back down in my spot on the couch. I turned on the TV and flipped through the stations, settling on a game show.

She came back with a couple pillows and a blanket from her room. "Do you want to go to school tomorrow?" she asked as she laid on the opposite end of the couch. I shook my head, burrowing under the covers. "Do you want me to stay home with you?" I shook my head again. "I just need rest. I'll be fine," I whimpered. "Okay sweetie," she sighed, patting my leg. We were in the middle of Wheel of Fortune when the doorbell rang. "That's the pizza," she grinned, getting up and running to get the door. I stared at the letters on the screen. A, E, A, T, I, L, M, I, D, with five letters missing. It was supposed to be a movie title. "A Beautiful Mind," I mumbled to myself, grinning when the answer was revealed and I turned out to be right. Mama came back with a pizza box in one arm and a two-liter of Dr. Pepper and two wine glasses in the other. "Dinner for queens," she giggled, handing me a glass. We sat cross-legged and facing each other, the large meat lover's pizza in between us. She filled our glasses with soda before clanking her glass against mine. I rolled my eyes and laughed at the goofy woman that had birthed me. "Let's see what's on," she said, taking the remote from me and pulling up the guide. We ended up watching Dracula. "Bela Lugosi is a legend, and you can fight me if you don't agree!" I proclaimed, puffing my chest out. Mama plucked a piece of bacon from her slice of pizza and threw it at me. "Fight this," she scoffed. My head still hurt, though not as bad as before. The static was now a soft buzz in the back of my head. "Mama?" She looked up at me mid-bite, her mouth full of cheesy greasy goodness. "Hm?" she grunted as she continued to tear into her food. "Having seizures sucks," I pouted, picking at the toppings on my pizza. She swallowed and took a big gulp from her glass before looking at me sadly. "I know it does Mari, I know. Your grandmother used to have seizures and I had to take care of her. It's just another obstacle life throws at people, but I know you're strong. Nothing can stop you," she assured me. I smiled softly and we ate in silence as we finished our movie.

I woke up the next morning to the sound of rain pouring outside. It was dark throughout the house and I was alone. I got up and went to the kitchen with the blanket draped around me. I started the coffee pot and grabbed a doughnut from the box on the counter before heading upstairs. The first thing I did every morning was take my medicine, and today was no different. After dry-swallowing the pills, I pulled a small notebook from my nightstand and flipped it open. It was filled with dates and short notes. I took the pen from inside and added to its almost-full pages.

March 14th
1st seizure in a month
Duration: 1-3 minutes

I put the notebook down and set my phone on charge, which was dead now. Finally, I made my way back downstairs. The coffee was done by the time I re-entered the kitchen, and I fixed myself a mug. I took a sip and sighed happily as I watched the rain. I turned my attention away from the window to grab another doughnut, and that's when I noticed the letter on the counter.