Best Part

PART 19

HER POV (listen to Empty Space by James Arthur for feels )

I'm happy to see Travis talking to me.

There has been some improvement in our friendship, and I'm already content. This is enough. Him sharing a secret with me is more than I could ever ask for. I just realized that it's his privacy.

Sometimes, I don't like his attitude, especially when he makes sarcastic comments. He often talks sarcastically, which I hate the most. I also don't like it when he suddenly changes his mood from time to time. It makes me feel like I need to understand him... even more.

Well, I've always been doing that. I've always tried to understand him, even though he's such a mess. I know he just needs someone who can understand him while he doesn't fully understand himself yet.

I closed my book and was about to walk out of the library when Gwyn pulled me harshly. I winced because my side hurt for an unknown reason.

"So, you really have no intention of showing up or talking to me?" She raised an eyebrow. I just laughed.

"What?"

"Don't 'What?' me, Emily Wyk! It's been days since you last checked in with me! Is it because you're always with that Travis—" I shut her up by hugging her tightly.

"Gwyn, whether we talk or not... whether we meet or not, that won't be a reason for our friendship to end, okay?"

"It's been 2 weeks!" I laughed at her.

"Emily, mind explaining?"

"Gwyn, I still have a lot of work to do. So, catch up with you... later!" I ran away from her.

I couldn't stop coughing until I got home. Mama looked at me when I opened the door. I greeted her with a smile and a hug.

"Are you okay, Emily?"

"It's just a cough, Ma."

Lies.

"Okay, there's medicine upstairs. Drink it right away and rest. Don't stay up too late, Emily Van Wyk."

"Mom, stop calling me by my full name."

"Why? I named you that!"

"I'm used to just Emily, not Emily Van Wyk," I said as I went up the stairs.

I lay on the bed and fell asleep.

I always feel tired and weak every day. Even if I don't do anything, I feel completely drained. Gwyn keeps noticing my sudden weight loss. Mama keeps complaining about my ongoing unexplained cough.

"Emily, you should get a check-up."

I glanced at Mama and saw the money laid out on the table, which I thought was just enough to cover the debts we needed to pay.

"Ma, I can handle this. It's just a cough, okay? Don't worry. It'll go away. I'll just avoid drinking anything cold."

"Emily Van Wyk." I know she's mad when she starts using my full name.

I don't want Mama to spend a large amount of money just for something as simple as a cough. It's better to use that money to pay for the bills we need to cover in the house instead of spending it on me.

I don't want to see Mama suffering again because of me. I don't want to see her crying over money. I don't want to make Mama sad because she doesn't have enough money to pay for the doctor.

"Here's the deal, Ma. I'll tell you if this cough doesn't go away... and then we'll go for a check-up, but you won't pay for it. I have some savings." I hugged her and ran outside.