𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 | 𝐒.𝐌

Chapter 6

The next morning I roll myself out of bed, literally. I fall onto the floor and grab the side of my bed to help myself to my feet again. The pain in my back and stomach kills me, and I can barely function normally. My phone rings and when I see it's Zayneb I pick up and put her on speaker.

'I'm dying!' She says.

'Me too! When did your period start?' I ask while walking to the kitchen.

'Yesterday. I can't go to work today. I just can't!' She yells.

'I'm just going to pop some pills and head to work.' I manage to say.

'You sound like a drug addict.'

'I know. I'll call you later.' I groan, hanging up the phone.

Zayneb has been my best friend my whole life, but since she stayed in Scotland I don't see her as often as I would like. 

For the past two years, our periods are in sync and we endure the same level of pain every time it comes. She always calls in sick when she's on her period, but I always try to get myself to work if the pills do their job right.

An hour later the pain still hasn't subdued. I call Bakker to cover for me at work. I just can't go to the office today. 

I spend the whole morning laying in bed, watching television and eating. I accidentally watched the ending of Game of Thrones and cried for two hours straight, I immediately reminded myself why I don't watch endings.

'I'll drop Adriana off tomorrow morning.' My dad text says.

I start crying harder. I forgot about babysitting the devil. My phone rings again, it's my work phone this time.

'Elizabeth McCullen speaking.' I say with tears in my eyes.

'Why are you crying?' Shawn asks through the phone.

'I don't want to babysit my sister!' I cry harder.

Why did I say that?!

'Why?'

'Because she's the devil...' My voice sounds calmer now.

'Can I come over?' He asks.

I see a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I look like a sad pile of bathrobes. I think for a moment, I really want chips, and I'm not going anywhere today so I could ask him to drop some off in the lobby?

No, I can't do that, we kissed once. I can't ask that from him.

'No, I'm sorry. I feel like shit.' I say after an awkward silence.

'It's okay. I'll text you.' He says.

My phone falls onto the ground and I start crying louder. I'm never this weak and emotional, but my period kills me every time. 

I climb out of bed and walk to the kitchen with my phone in my hand. I put my phone on the kitchen island and open the fridge. I wipe my tears away and swallow another painkiller, drinking it down with a Red Bull.

'I hate this shit, fuck, shit, horrible, fuck day!' I scream.

Someone laughs, and it wasn't me or the television. I look around, like a cat watching a spectacle. Where the fuck did that sound come from? 

I grab my phone to call nine-one-one, but when I see Shawn's name still on my screen I'm a little relieved and embarrassed at the same time.

'Did you hear that?' I whisper.

'Yes, I did...' He laughs again. 'Do you have the flu or something?' He asks.

'No, I wish I did. I'm on my period.' I say sliding to the floor, my back against the kitchen cabinet.