Love Unfolding

ERIKA LEIGH PARLAM

I stirred my eyes and knitted my brows as I heard an audible gnashing of teeth and groans of pain.

I turned to look at Andy curled up on my side— trembling and shaking.

I jolted and sat up to check on her. I gently rocked her shoulder.

"Love"

"Love," I called.

Then she let out a whimper followed by flowing tears.

"d.a.m.n"

She"s having a really bad dream— a nightmare.

"G.o.d"

I needed to wake her up and I did… and she did.

Her eyes were just half opened and dilated. She"s also breathing really hard.

Then her fearful gaze found mine despite the darkness of our bedroom and another tears rolled down her cheeks as though letting out a bubbled emotions as well as a feeling of relief.

I looked at her wearily then cupped her face for comfort and a.s.surance and —

"s.h.i.t"

I touched her forehead right after, then her neck…

"s.h.i.t"

… then I panicked.

She"s burning with high fever.

[**************]

I retrieved a small bin and lined it with plastic bag setting it next to her head on the floor.

"In case you want to puke."

She just nodded while still trembling as she"s really sick.

I sat on the edge of the bed next to her, my heart deflated.

I never really had to take care of Andy in sickness ever since living together because she never got sick— as in never.

And now, she"s being stubborn on not going to hospital and just want to sleep it out.

So, I did not go to school either and stayed to watch over her.

I knew she"s just trying to be tough but good thing I knew a little of what to do especially the fear of dehydration.

"tsk"

It was an hour after I had my lunch that she rushed to the bathroom and heaved then puked.

I followed to join her and gathered her hair up away from her face as she hunched down to the toilet.

My face went sour to the tank smell and I"m a person that easily gross out.

I had also taken a pity on her state as she really looked like s.h.i.t— honestly.

But I won"t tell her that.

"hahaha"

And even so, I— I love her and nothing could ever make me love her less, nothing.

As in nothing… not power, incidents, accidents, circ.u.mstances and whatsoever could do that nor could pluck her out of my heart— not even death.

"ayieeee"

She stood after puking and washed her mouth in the sink and still able to smirk at me on the mirror as she knew it had taken me big deal just to be of help in there.

I rolled my eyes back to my brain, good thing they didn"t stayed there, then held her as she crawled back to bed.

It took Andy almost twenty four hours to combat the extreme symptoms of the flu and starts to look like herself again— not like a "s.h.i.t" anymore.

"hahaha"

I smiled and laid next to her. She even argue at first, fearing I might get sick as well, but I insisted.

"Keep your lips away from me, " she said in a raspy tone.

A smile curved at my lips and I moved even closer, teasing her.

"Erika, you d.a.m.n know you"re irresistible, " she complained while groaning.

"And?" I teased more.

She rolled to the other side, her back on me in which I laughed out.

"Thank you, " she mumbled, audible enough to my hearing.

I relaxed myself on my side, a ruler from her, facing her back.

"You"re welcome." I answered.

"What would I do without you?" She asked, still her back on me.

I didn"t answer, "cause that instance I could feel the seriousness of her voice and the serenity of the air around us.

"You have my heart, you have it from the start, " she continued.

"There is no one I could ever imagine being with..."

"… and there"s no one else I want either."

"G.o.d"

I was biting my lower lip not to make a sound nor to cry and was suppressing the urge to reach out and grab her.

"G.o.d"

I was so happy to hear that.

"I"m scared."

"Maybe I"m scared because you mean more to me than anything in this world."

"You are the death of me Erika."

"G.o.d"

By then she rolled over and faced me, still we were a ruler away.

She lovingly stared at me while I tried to hold the tears welling around my eyes threatening to fall.

"There"s no one else I need other than you," she again continued.

"You are everything I need and everything I want."

"I love you Erika."

I got a lump in my throat right there but I somehow managed.

"You"re making me cry." I muttered then tears were finally rolling down my eyes.

"I want to kiss you really really bad." I added between sniffles.

The idiot pulled her lips inward right after I said that. I let out a small chuckle and playfully rolled my eyes.

She"s really not letting me kiss her.

So, I held her hand instead, squeezing it, letting her know that I feel the same.

"I love you too Love." I sincerely said... and that brought a smile to her.

Then tears ran down her face as she laughed from happiness.

"So good to be loved"