When the Fireworks Begin

Chapter XXII

Devon gradually opened her eyes. Looking at James’s side of the bed, she saw that it was empty. A faint smell of newly cooked rice drifted into their room. Devon smiled, her husband is already in the kitchen.

When she tried to pull herself up, Devon felt breathless. She fell back into her pillows.  Her lungs seem to be uncooperative, refusing to pump enough air into her system. She tried to pull herself up again, but again was stopped by shortness of breath.  Again, her head fell back into her pillows. 

Devon’s usual normal breathing was now shallow, her muscles feel weak as if she has been running for the entire night.   She tried to move her legs, but then she remembered, she hasn’t moved them for months now.  And then she realized, the disease is finally catching up on her.

She felt fear. 

What will happen to me, Devon frantically thought. 

Will this be my last breath?

What if I didn’t wake up?

Devon shrunk further into her pillows.  Her fear overcoming her.  

Will I die alone, Devon thought, looking around the empty room. James’s face and her family’s faces flashed through her mind.

Not now, not today, Devon fought the thought of death.  Using all of her energy, overcoming her weakness, she placed her hands firmly beside her.  Her hands feel swollen, thickened, but she did not pay attention.  She pushed herself up. For Devon it seems like hours before her back was finally resting against the headboard. 

Pushing herself up, actually took only several minutes, but Devon was already gasping for air.  Devon wished that James would not walk into the room right now.  She does not want him to see her in a state like this. 

The room was cold enough, but beads of perspiration have formed on Devon’s forehead.  She leaned back against the headboard and rested her head on the wood. It would be more comfortable if she could pull a pillow under her head.  Devon tried to reach for a pillow, but she felt her fingers were swollen and tingling.  That was when she noticed the fingers in her left hand.  Three fingers, her pinky, ring finger, and middle finger, were turned in, as if it was trying to curl into her palm but froze. And her entire left hand was shaking.

Devon looked at her shaking hand, she tried to lift it to take a closer look but her arm muscles are working against her.  She can’t barely lift it at chest level.

“Hey you’re awake,” James greeted as he walked into the room.

Devon missed his footsteps. She was too preoccupied with what is happening to her body that she did not noticed James walking towards to the room.  She dropped her hand as if she was caught in a middle of a crime. 

James caught Devon guiltily dropping her hands on her lap. She was sitting on the bed, looking uncomfortable. 

“Are you okay,” James asked worriedly.