Beyond the Black Curtain

Chapter 40 - Best Gift I Could Ask For

Rae

Four days earlier

"That was close," I sighed out a breath of relief as I spoke after ending the video call with Sebastian. I just couldn't stop myself from yawning after about 10 minutes because I was just so darn tired. That, and my stomach ached every time I tried to speak probably because of too much retching and heaving from the last five days.

I looked at the half eaten chicken noodle soup at the table and then to the packets of consumed medicine strewn around it. "God, I can't believe this is happening to me," I muttered to myself. I was about to lie down again when my phone alarmed, reminding me to take another one of the prescribed medication. After downing it with the remaining glass of water I have, I tried to settle myself to get some sleep. Thankfully, I was out like a light after a few minutes.

The following two days I started feeling slightly better, but knew that I still wasn't at my hundred percent. I was able to slowly pace around the house to help myself with some food, but that didn't stop Olivia from dropping by before heading out to the office. She still brought me food, realizing that all I could prep for myself were PB&Js and grilled cheese sandwiches.

"How's it going at the office? Editors taking care of things, I hope?" I ask Olivia one morning while picking on the light pesto pasta she brought me.

"You are insane," Liv shoots back in response. "You're sick and you still think about work?"

"What?" I ask with fake innocence. "I promise I haven't checked my emails...?"

"Whatever gets you through these days, Rae," Liv sasses back at me while giving me a smirk. "Have you told Sebastian yet?"

My mood shifts at the mention of his name. I take a sip of water to buy myself a little time before responding. "No, I haven't, when we talked 3 days ago, he looked so tired. He wouldn't tell me what they shot but I could tell it was something that really took a lot out of him. Maybe tomorrow, I'll try and see if I can call him again."

I started feeling dizzy again come night time but dismissed it as just being my hunger catching up on me. After all, the last time I ate was in the morning. I reheated the left over pasta and sandwich and thankfully got them down with minimal trouble. I fell asleep not long after I finished eating.

I woke up the following morning the same way I did the last few mornings with my face on the toilet bowl, dumping everything I had in my stomach out. Today was different though, the headache I felt seemed to resonate through my entire body. When the last wave of my vomiting ended, I thought I was gonna be able to get up and lay back in bed but instead, I was only able to get up to my knees before everything went black.

"Your girlfriend's pregnant, Mr. Stan..."

"She's what?!"

"Seb, I'm sorry, she said she was gonna tell you..."

"...suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, good thing this has happened as early as this stage of her pregnancy..."

The voices drifted in and out of my consciousness, I can't distinguish which ones were real and which ones were just figments of my imagination. I realized though that I might be in the hospital, but I can't remember why I would be, all I could remember was being in the bathroom before blacking out. I tried opening my eyes but I still felt so tired and spent to even do that. I let sleep consume me once more, hoping this nightmare would be over when I wake.

My eyes fluttered open and the first thing I saw was the faint blue painted ceiling of the room I was in. I gingerly looked around and confirmed that I was indeed in the hospital, making my stomach drop in worry. I then tried to lift my right hand but wasn't able to because it was being held by another hand. I look to that direction and see a mop of brown hair with caramel highlights. I smile slightly upon realizing that I at least didn't dream of hearing his voice. Sebastian was really here.