most people have started to head out to have a quick recap meeting with Chad. He still has that glow of someone in a new relationship and I am so glad it won’t be ruined by the knowledge of Kristin sleeping with Henry.
By the time Wednesday rolls around, I am ready to enjoy a few days in fresh surroundings. I know as soon as I get to the airport, I’ll want to turn around and run back to Taylor, but it’s the only way I can think of to get some clarity and balance back. Taylor insisted I take the corporate jet, but I had already bought a first class ticket, since the thought of asking him for a jet to visit my mom seemed just mildly ridiculous. Before heading to the airport I called my mom to tell her I was on my way, and she was very excited. Taylor escorts me all the way to security. We pause for a moment, and I look up at him and admire the dark lashes against his bright eyes. I never tire of admiring his face. I want to apologize for my distance, for my inability to fully surrender myself to him since Eric and finding out about Emily, but I don’t. I just stare into his eyes for a few extra seconds than normal, and then I kiss him tenderly.
“Take care of yourself, kiddo,” he says, with the slightest hint of sadness in his eyes. “I hope you get some much needed peace.”
“I think you need a break from me,” I say.
“Never.”
Then, sadly, I watch him walk away.
***
Shortly after the plane takes off, I begin to feel under the weather. I can’t quite put my finger on it, other than it being that out-of-it feeling I usually get before a bout with a bad cold or fever. By the time we approach the descent, I shiver, despite being wrapped in several blankets provided by the flight attendant. When the plane lands I am too weak to grab by bag from the overhead compartment.
“Ma’am are you okay? You don’t look so well,” one of the flight attendants asks.
“I don’t think so…” I say between chattering teeth. She is kind enough to have someone drive me out in one of those golf carts. I know I look terrible when I see my mother’s facial expression.
“Shyla! Oh my goodness, what’s wrong?” By this point, every bone in my body aches. Two times on the way to her apartment, my mother pulls over her car for me to puke on the side of the road. “We should take you to the hospital,” she insists.
“No mom, I want to go home,” I say, weakly. “It’s probably just food poisoning.”
Once we arrive, she helps me undress and tucks me into bed. Three comforters do nothing to stop the shivers despite my body being drenched in sweat. I don’t ever recall having been this sick before, it’s as if my body is finally crumbling underneath the weight of the stress it has endured. I sleep for hours and whenever I wake, I am still so tired that I immediately fall back asleep.
On Thursday evening, my mother peeks her head into the bedroom. “Shyla, doll, you’re phone has been going off a lot. Should I answer it?”
I rouse my achy body up from underneath the mountain of comforters. “No, gimme, I’ll look,” I say, barely able to keep my eyes open.
“If this fever doesn’t break by tomorrow, I’m taking you to the doctor, I don’t care what you say.” I am too weak to even try and resist. She hands me the phone and brushes my sweaty hair out of my face. “My god, you’re boiling up. I’m bringing you some soup. You need to get some fluids in you.”
“I’m too nauseous, mom.”
“Just try a few spoons, okay?”
She steps out and I take a deep breath to conquer the normally simple task of trying to check my messages.
There is a voicemail from Chad, so I quickly call him to let him know how terribly sick I am.
From there, I see several missed calls from Taylor and then several unread texts.
Mr. Sexypants:
You’re not answering my calls. What’s going on?
——
You’ve got me worried here. Please message me.
——
Okay I’m going to get your mother’s
By the time Wednesday rolls around, I am ready to enjoy a few days in fresh surroundings. I know as soon as I get to the airport, I’ll want to turn around and run back to Taylor, but it’s the only way I can think of to get some clarity and balance back. Taylor insisted I take the corporate jet, but I had already bought a first class ticket, since the thought of asking him for a jet to visit my mom seemed just mildly ridiculous. Before heading to the airport I called my mom to tell her I was on my way, and she was very excited. Taylor escorts me all the way to security. We pause for a moment, and I look up at him and admire the dark lashes against his bright eyes. I never tire of admiring his face. I want to apologize for my distance, for my inability to fully surrender myself to him since Eric and finding out about Emily, but I don’t. I just stare into his eyes for a few extra seconds than normal, and then I kiss him tenderly.
“Take care of yourself, kiddo,” he says, with the slightest hint of sadness in his eyes. “I hope you get some much needed peace.”
“I think you need a break from me,” I say.
“Never.”
Then, sadly, I watch him walk away.
***
Shortly after the plane takes off, I begin to feel under the weather. I can’t quite put my finger on it, other than it being that out-of-it feeling I usually get before a bout with a bad cold or fever. By the time we approach the descent, I shiver, despite being wrapped in several blankets provided by the flight attendant. When the plane lands I am too weak to grab by bag from the overhead compartment.
“Ma’am are you okay? You don’t look so well,” one of the flight attendants asks.
“I don’t think so…” I say between chattering teeth. She is kind enough to have someone drive me out in one of those golf carts. I know I look terrible when I see my mother’s facial expression.
“Shyla! Oh my goodness, what’s wrong?” By this point, every bone in my body aches. Two times on the way to her apartment, my mother pulls over her car for me to puke on the side of the road. “We should take you to the hospital,” she insists.
“No mom, I want to go home,” I say, weakly. “It’s probably just food poisoning.”
Once we arrive, she helps me undress and tucks me into bed. Three comforters do nothing to stop the shivers despite my body being drenched in sweat. I don’t ever recall having been this sick before, it’s as if my body is finally crumbling underneath the weight of the stress it has endured. I sleep for hours and whenever I wake, I am still so tired that I immediately fall back asleep.
On Thursday evening, my mother peeks her head into the bedroom. “Shyla, doll, you’re phone has been going off a lot. Should I answer it?”
I rouse my achy body up from underneath the mountain of comforters. “No, gimme, I’ll look,” I say, barely able to keep my eyes open.
“If this fever doesn’t break by tomorrow, I’m taking you to the doctor, I don’t care what you say.” I am too weak to even try and resist. She hands me the phone and brushes my sweaty hair out of my face. “My god, you’re boiling up. I’m bringing you some soup. You need to get some fluids in you.”
“I’m too nauseous, mom.”
“Just try a few spoons, okay?”
She steps out and I take a deep breath to conquer the normally simple task of trying to check my messages.
There is a voicemail from Chad, so I quickly call him to let him know how terribly sick I am.
From there, I see several missed calls from Taylor and then several unread texts.
Mr. Sexypants:
You’re not answering my calls. What’s going on?
——
You’ve got me worried here. Please message me.
——
Okay I’m going to get your mother’s
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