sonder

peripeteia

Chapter Twenty Five

Peripeteia

(n.) a sudden or unexpected reversal of circumstances; the point of no return

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    The greyness of the world spun around me as I continued on my way up the street to my house. Mr. Harvey had sent me home early when I showed up with a pounding headache, a raw, reddened nose from sniffling so much, and a fever that was definitely breaking a normal, healthy temperature. One look at me and Mr. Harvey told me that I better get home to rest otherwise I wouldn't be working for the rest of the week, which I knew was a joke but I had the feeling that there was some validity to it as well.

    My vision faded in and out with exhaustion as I looked across the road at the Harvey's house, wondering if I should pick up my siblings; however, I could just hear Mrs. Harvey's voice telling me to go home as Mr. Harvey, I'm sure, had already rung to tell her about my state of being under the weather.

    My hands felt clammy as I touched the cool doorknob of my front door, the metal sending a small shiver down my spine as soon my fingertips wrap around it. I drag my feet across the floor as I head to my bedroom, my sore nose hitting my pillow of my bed causes my eyes to water as darkness filters through my vision.

    The vibrating of my phone wake me from unconsciousness, the sky much darker than when I had fallen asleep earlier after getting home. The floor slowly came into focus as my screen lit up with my mom's contact. I slide my thumb across the screen with slowed motions, raising the speaker to my ear with tiredness. I could already feel my eyes drooping with heaviness.

    "Hello?" I greet, sleep still worming its way into my voice.

    "Kali, where were you at work today?" My mother's angered tone questioned. My head spun as I quickly got up from my position lying down, my feet hitting the floor with a thud.

    I hear the sharp inhale of my mom as a rumbling, ache-inducing cough comes over me. "I got a cold." I sputter out after my minor fit of coughing.

    I can just imagine the disappointment on my mother's face as she shakes her head and sighs on the other end of the line. "Kali, we really need that money though. You shouldn't just be skipping days if it's only a cold."

    Anger spikes within me at my mother's snarky sound and words, she was always one to be about getting rest and taking care of yourself, especially because she's a nurse. The fact that she's now worried though makes me suspicious that it has something to do with the envelope I discovered a few weeks ago.

    "Well, I'm sorry that Mr. Harvey sent me home because he cares about my wellbeing." I snap back, my delirious mind taking control of my vocal chords before I can think better of the things that I'm saying.

    My mom scoffs. "You don't sound sick." She clips back.

    "Yeah, and you don't tell me about our late rent notices either but?" I leave my sentence hanging in the air, oxygen evacuating out of the atmosphere around me within seconds. I could already feel the regret and guilt building up within me as I wait for my mom's response.

    "We'll talk about this when I get home." The line clicks dead after that, nothing but a dead ringing bouncing through my mind.

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    Every car that passed by caused my heart to steadily beat at a faster rate. The nerves of having to confront my mom building with each passing minute until she came through the door. Austin and Courtney could sense something was wrong besides my sick-looking nature. They had both been nearly completely silent throughout all of dinner and getting ready for bed. It wasn't until I was tucking Courtney into bed that she questioned my odd behaviour.