Alternate (Phan)

52*retseL pilihP

Dan

'None, you seriously don't have any?' I whispered. Phil and I were both in the tent, our supplies from our bags spread across the floor. Those same supplies I sat in, legs sprawled out in desperate hope there were still some left.

'I promise, I was counting.' he spoke back.

'Why didn't you tell me?'

'I-I didn't want you to worry.'

'Well now I'm worried!' I raised my voice, waving a sock in the air. I saw his eyes change, they became fluttery as they focused on things. And he had no meds.

'Phil, look at me. Breathe. Bring yourself back. Um, you like...you like random games. How many animals that start with A? Go!' I had to put as many possibilities out there. He glanced at me, looking at me as if I was pathetic. 'Just do it!'

'Ant. Anteater...' he looked up at me again, asking to continue. I ferociously nodded. 'A...Armadillo, alligator...alpaca, uh...uh...' his eyes lit up again in desperation for animals.

'Five seconds!' I shouted.

'There's a time? Shit! Uh...uh...Alex?' I smiled, he looked at me in confusion for a second before his eyes widened, 'Thank you.' he muttered.

'Since when is Alex an animal?' I chuckled, kissing his cheek.

***

'No!' Ev shouted, throwing his onesie across the room, 'No clothes!' he'd been throwing a tantrum about getting in clothes for the past half an hour while Phil was sorting out the torture zone outback. It was going to be cold tonight, I didn't want him to catch anything.

Phil entered the room, spotting my flustered state and a naked child throwing a fit.

'Ev, listen to your Dadda.' he growled. Ev's face scrunched up, followed by a harrowing scream. We both spotted it, the way Phil's actions changed.

'Dadda...' Ev nervously grabbed my hand.

'Go back to the tent Evy.' he nodded, shuffling away.

'Phil. Say your name backwards.' I chuckled.

'What? Why?' he grimaced. For fuck's sake just listen to me.

'Just...it sounds funny.'

'The whole thing?' he asked. I nodded. 'Trurr-ttss-ehh-lluh, llaa-ck-ayy-mmmu, lliih-ppuh.' he giggled. I looked up, noticing the brightness in his eyes again. He approached me, kissing my forehead and spinning me around, 'I still can't believe I can't figure out what you're doing when you tell me to do these.'

'You're just used to my randomness.' I smiled back.

I could guarantee these worked most of the time, but there were a few slip-ups. Nine times out of ten, I'd say. And, he's getting better. In general, although once he ran out of his pills he got worse for the next month, he's getting better now. I think a large part was down to his ankle hurting less by the day. I was going whatever I could to speed up his recovery.

There's only so many clouds you can have in the sky before they rain down. Sure, the rain is another issue, but then once the worst is over, all the skies are cleared.

The sun shines again.