Like Nobody's Business

Ain't It Fun

Nayeli Binns

"It's alright I'll take it to him," I smiled at Ruth, the new caretaker Alexander hired for the house, while taking the tray which held the soup I had prepared for him.

Alexander hired a whole staff to upkeep the condition of the house and frankly I'm okay with that, neither of us will have the time to give this house the attention it needs. It's the simple things I told him I will worry about, like getting the groceries, doing laundry, cooking dinner.

While growing, my mother had taught me to care for who I love. I watched her care for my father even though his drug addiction worsened, I don't want to say he didn't deserve help but he didn't deserve hers. He never even tried to save himself, if he never cared why should she?

"Do you want me to switch off the air condition?" I carefully sat the hot bowl of soup on the night stand next to the bed.

"No, you're gonna be hot," Alexander emerged his body from beneath the thick sheets to sit up. You could tell he is ill just by looking into his eyes, you could see how tired he is.

"You look like you're about to die." I frowned and reached for his forhead, as expected he was burning up. "Are you sure you don't want to see a doctor?"

His body temperature has reached an alarming level, he isn't concerned but I am.

"No I'll be okay, this is just a common cold."

"You also have a fever," I rose off the bed and began walking towards our bathroom, the soft carpet beneath my feet cushioning my every step. "Where can I find the thermometer?"

"I don't think I have one," he sneezed.

"Well I definitely will be making a trip to supermarket, the house needs a few other items." I exited the bathroom and walked into the closet. Never have I ever lived somewhere so luxurious for me to have a closet as big as a bedroom.
"I'll call David and have him pick me up within a hour or so, is there anything that you want?"

"I don't want you going there alone." He answered weakly.

"Nothing is going to happen to me, why would anyone want to harm me? No one even knows who I am." I explained.

"That was before those pictures were taken and began circulating around the internet. Paparazzi are not to be played with, don't underestimate them."

I understand the point he is trying to get across and he's right but it's been almost two weeks since we've returned and not once has there been an incident of that sort.

"I don't want it to feel like my life is changing, like I am this different person."

"Come here," he croaked, probably because he's as weak as he looks.

"I wanna continue being normal ole me." I slowly inch towards the bed before climbing on top to hold his hand he had extended.

"Your life has changed . . . it happened the moment you decided to take that step with me, I am not a normal person, I certainly do not live a normal Nayeli so you need to accept this new lifestyle."

I thought about what he said and my life has changed indeed, not in the way he was referring to. Immediately I stopped every unwelcome memory, pushing them to the back of my mind as much as I could.

I do not need my thoughts affecting my energy.

"I just don't want anything to happen to you, especially something I know I could've prevented."

----

I ran my eyes over the different products until my eyes landed on the box of ginger teabags. I couldn't choose between it and the peppermint, instead I decided to get both leaving it up to Alexander to decide to have whichever he preferred. I quickly turned on my heels about to jog back for the item but I didn't get far when I was met with a firm chest, knocking me off my feet.