I don't remember when I got home, all I know is that when I woke up I had a major headache and my stomach hurt. Which made sense when I vomited five minutes later. I'm too hot then too cold every five seconds, I can't eat anything, and my nose is so stuffed I can't breathe out of it.
"Do you think you could eat now?" I turn towards Erik, my face covered in sweat and hair up in a very messy bun. I definitely wasn't the most attractive right now but I could care less. I felt like I was dying.
"Nuh-uh," I mumble, shaking my head. The pain and cold meds were getting to me and each time I talked, Erik would laugh.
"Come on, Noa," he whispers as he walks closer to me, steaming bowl of soup in one hand and a spoon in the other. "You have to eat something. It's not good for you to not eat. For me?" Again, I shake my head.
"No." I sound like a child but my mind is fuzzy and nothing really matters. "Not hungry."
"Noa," he whines, "you have to eat. You won't get any better if you don't eat." He places the bowl on the coffee table and sits on the floor in front of me. "Please eat or I'll call Sydney." I start to feel drowsy again, so I just shrug. Eventually his words drown themselves out as darkness takes over.
***
When I wake up again, there's two voices arguing with each other.
"What's her temperature?"
"A little over one-oh-one. It was ninety-nine a few hours ago. If it keeps going like this, should I take her to the hospital?"
"Maybe. When was the last time she ate? Or drank anything?"
"I'm not sure. But she came by the café yesterday and spent all day outside. I carried her home and she stayed asleep. I heard her throwing up this morning."
"Okay, so she hasn't eaten or drank anything in around twenty-four hours. Her temperature is rising and she won't eat or stay awake for more than an hour." I start to shift, slowly waking up. Their talking stops and my eyes peel open to see Sydney and Daryl talking to Erik. They all turn to me and stare.
"What?" I croak, wincing at the rawness of my throat. They're not wrong, I haven't drank anything in a while and my throat hurts from the dryness. I started to ask if I could have some water when my mouth filled with saliva and my tongue became numb. I guess Erik saw this and he rushed towards me, placing a bucket under my face just as I started vomiting. At this point it was just the liquid from my stomach.
My hair is pulled out of my face and I can tell it's Erik by how gentle he is. It takes a minute or two until the vomiting stops and I can sit up. I'm really thirsty and I take the Gatorade Sydney offers me, downing half of it in one go. Then, like what has happened every other time, I lean forward and vomit the red Gatorade. I freak out a little more because it does look like blood.
"Just breathe, Noa," Erik soothes, rubbing my back. He places a hand on my forehead and I hear his sigh. "I think we need to take her to a hospital." Sydney and Daryl give each other a look before looking back at Erik and nodding. "Okay. Did you hear Noa? We're gonna take you to the hospital. I'll get some extra clothes and pack some more stuff while Daryl and Sydney take you into their car. I'll be with you in just a minute. Be careful and don't worry." I can't be sure but I'm pretty sure there's worry in his voice. I can't think about it too much because I eventually pass out again.
YOU ARE READING
In The Eyes Of a Saint
Teen FictionI stare at the cars. I stare at the people. I look up and I stare at the sky. I stare at the clouds. A few birds fly by. I stare at those, too. Then, I look at the buildings. Some are completely lit up. Others are only partially. I stare at the cars...
