Stuck with a Punk ✔

No. 41.: Nurturing

Annabelle has agreed to stay over for the night. More like surrendered. I hated the thought of her driving sick, and even more, of her being alone in an apartment with no one to jump to her aid. She has helped me many, many times and since this pain she's into is a part of my doing, it's only fair I help her out this time.

She leaves a couple of times to go to the bathroom and cough out more of the disgusting green bile and whenever she comes back to rest her head on the couch and partly on my shoulder, it looks like she's going to doze off.

I'm too hesitant to give her anything to eat. It's not the best that her stomach is completely empty but I have a feeling macaroni and cheese wouldn't stay in there for long. I do make sure she drinks. She drinks very carefully and water only but I don't want to find her next morning all dried up.

"Are you at least getting a little bit better?" I ask, concerned with her condition and if she'll get through the night normally.

She shifts and takes a deep breath to keep her stomach from twisting "You should've seen me around lunchtime. I was in the bathroom so much I felt guilty about leaving Devon all alone." She lifts her glance apologetically "I'm sorry about him, Nathan."

"Annabelle, you're in really bad shape, don't feel guilty about him. I'm sure he had fun nonetheless." I smile and put the blanket, the very same I gave her this morning, around her shoulders again.

Annabelle smiles lightly, though it seems like it's too painful for her to do so.

"What if you lie down? Maybe you could fall asleep easier." I suggest. She looks half-dead and too tired to dig up her own grave. Maybe if she falls asleep, her stomach could calm down.

"I don't know. I have a feeling if I'll lay down everything will just get worse." She shrugs and adds "Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea, though."

With closed eyes, she's leaning back to lie down and try to fall asleep.

I stop her on her way and bring her back up "Oh, no, no."

She brings herself to open her eyes "What is it?"

"You're not sleeping here. Come, we're going to bed." I say and get up.

I look down at her and see her weakly shaking with her head "I'm fine here, Nathan. I don't want to get up, really."

"Good thing you don't have to." I crouch down and swoop her up into my arms.

Her eyes light up with life when she's taken by surprise. If I hear it right, she even gives out a yelp "Nathan!"

I laugh and keep her up in the air, up in my arms "Let me take care of you!"

She laughs lightly and silently as if giving the sound more power could doom her "Alright."

It doesn't take us long to reach the bedroom. I notice she's very light as I carry her but I suppose that's what ballerinas should be like. Thanks to my reflexes, I avoid bumping her head into a doorframe. By the bed, I slowly kneel down and place her on the sheets.

Annabelle smiles as she looks up to me "Thank you, Nathan."

"You don't have to thank me for that," I smile and am about to leave. It'd be probably for the best if I leave her to her rest. Having gawking eyes on you while you're sick and desperately trying to fall asleep, doesn't really help.

"Nathan?" She mumbles, her voice so thin it's nearly lost in the silence of the room.

I turn around when I'm standing under the doorframe "Yes?"

My first thought is she's going to throw up again. It'd be a good idea to bring her a bucket or something by the bed so she wouldn't have to run to the bathroom if she'll be in distress.