Read All About It

Chapter 3

Dear You,

I’m still trying to understand what words mean. Just in general I guess. Some words are strange, you know? Like they have a different meaning to everyone. Always is a funny one. I mean, sometimes it actually means “forever”, but sometimes it means “always, until I decide that I don’t want to do that anymore and yeah.”

Which one are you?

Sincerely,

Me.

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I couldn’t exactly see the last few words of the letter because I sneezed all over the paper in front of me and my snot smeared the pen a bit.

“Maybe you should stick to typing.” A voice from the doorway said.

I quickly shoved the letter into the empty drawer of my desk and turned to look at my visitor. It was Louis of course. What else was I expecting?

“You feeling alright, mate? You look a bit-“

“Oh no, don’t you dare start on that. I am fine. Just a little tired is all.” I objected quickly. I always refuse to be sick. I don’t have time for it in my life, so I ignore it. Unfortunately, I ended my defense with a series of rather foul sounding coughs that countered my statement.

“Harry, don’t lie to yourself. You are sick and you know it. Maybe you should just-“

“Louis…stop. I am fine, honest.”

He gave a rather condescending laugh and rolled his eyes at my statement.

He smirked a bit before digressing. “Alright…If you are fine, would you mind helping me with some of the furniture in the living room? I want to change some things around.”

“Sure. Be right there.” I said. He turned around and laughed under his breath as he walked out of the room. I stood up and began to follow him out when I became completely overwhelmed with dizziness and my stomach flipped over itself. I had to steady myself on the corner of the desk. I ended up knocking off a few books from the edge.

“Everything alright in there?” He called out.

I gulped down a stabilizing breath. “Just fine.” I called back and headed for the living room. I wasn’t going to let him win this. I’m not even that sick, I told myself.

“So, what do you want to change?” I asked as I leaned on the island in the kitchen. As casual as I looked, this thing was supporting my weight and keeping me standing upright.

“I want to spin the small sofa around to the other side, but I can’t do it. Bad back, you know? Can you switch it for me?” A faint smile was present on his face, but I ignored it and headed for the couch.

I spun it to face the nearest wall. “How’s that?” I asked.

He stared at it for a bit with pursed lips and his arms folded across his chest. “Mmmm, no. Let’s try that wall.” He pointed to the wall across the room and I spun the chair to face that direction instead. My stomach lurched over itself as I moved around in a circle.

“Here?” I asked, a little weaker than before. Come on, Harry. Just get this situated and you can go back to your room. Just make it through this.

“No, no, no. That isn’t right either.” Louis said, shaking a hand at the chair placement. “Can you put it back the way it was before?”

I gulped down my queasiness and spun the chair back around to its original position. That final spin did it. My stomach quickly made its way up to my throat. I made a mad dash to the bathroom and tried to prevent myself from being sick any of the other rooms in the house.