JASPER
***
Twenty-two years on this fucking earth and my body chooses now to be dog-sick in bed with a fucking cold?
Talk about not fighting fair.
I have a month left with Libby, three weeks left of travelling and now I'm not even able to get out of fucking bed.
"How we feeling, soldier?" She asks everyday when I wake up at midday freezing my butt off even though it's fucking boiling outside. I know she's doing it as a joke but she's fucking testing my patience. I suppose it's the world's way of testing us both, in sickness and in health, and so far Libby's probably wondering what the fuck she's got herself into.
I hate being sick. I've officially decided. It sucks. It sucks almost as much as being away from her does. But I need to man up. I've been in bed for two days already, and I'm not spending day three out of four in bed when there is so much to see outside.
I don't even know what time it is, but it must be early still. Libby is sleeping next to me, not needing a blanket because she has a fucking oven sleeping next to her. I've told her to keep her distance, and she's tried mostly, but I think we're both finding it hard.
I'd started to feel a bit shitty before we left Wilmington, but I brushed it off mostly. But half way to New Orleans I could barely keep my eyes open for ten minutes, let alone for the ten hour drive. Libby, bless her, drove practically the whole way, and I'm proud of her. It's a very long drive, and doing it overnight whilst I'm dying in the corner can't have been easy.
When we arrived two days ago, early in the morning, we checked in and she immediately put me to bed. And I haven't fucking got out of it since. She's been out to get me drugs and supplies, she said the lady downstairs made me chicken noodle soup, and I was sick of not being able to do anything for myself. I could just about get to the bathroom by myself. I'd die before Libby saw me take a shit. Literally die.
I roll over slowly, aching everywhere, and check my phone on the side. Five. I could see the light coming into the window, and just once I want to be able to see the sunrise for myself. So I sit up, again slowly, and swing my legs over the bed.
I feel a bit better today than I did yesterday so I manage to push myself up off the bed and walk by myself to the chair by the window. I seat myself gently, groaning in pain as my aching legs protest. But I do it by myself and that's the main thing.
And as I take a seat, I'm just in time. The sunrise starts peaking above the swampy areas where we're staying, and it reflects through the trees, showering me with lights in all different colours. The birds and the animals are calling above the silence, and as I close my eyes, taking in the heat of the sun now coming through the window, I actually feel a little better. I open my eyes and for the first time in basically four days, I smile.
I close my eyes again, and the smile gets wider when I feel a pair of hands touch my shoulder and a pair of lips touch the side of my head.
"Don't say it," I say, my eyes still closed. I can sense it coming out of her mouth again and she sniffs a laugh.
"I was actually going to say that you must be feeling better... if you managed to get out of bed," she giggles.
"A bit. Still a bit wobbly..." I look behind me. "Come here," I reach my arms out and encourage her to sit on my lap. When she's sat, I rest my head on her shoulder and close my eyes.
"You up for exploring today then?" She asks after a minute of silence. "Maybe? I was thinking we can try and get tickets to the LSU Tigers game tonight?"
YOU ARE READING
Whirlwind
RomanceThe last thing on Libby Reynolds' mind was falling in love... On a year abroad with university, she wants nothing more than to just keep her head down, study hard and pass all her exams. But when Libby meets Jasper on her first day, a mysterious bo...