Talania - a Trip Down Memory Lane... by Crystal Spears

bills on the table.
    “Home.” She repeats.
    “Yeah, home. It’s there whenever you want it babe,” I say, kissing her temple and wrapping my arm around her shoulder. I quickly have to pull back because her skin is like an open fire. I stop her and put my hand to her forehead. Shit, she is burning up, yet she doesn’t even act like it is bothering her.
    “Baby, you are running one hell of a fever,” I say as I drag her out of the restaurant and quickly over to my Jeep. “Did you know you were running a fever?”
    I can’t believe she didn’t say anything. Why didn’t she tell me she was more than just tired?
    “Yes,” she whispers.
    YES? “You knew and didn’t say anything?”
    She crosses her arms and lays her head against the headrest. “I knew.”
    “Why didn’t you say anything Ev?”
    She closes her eyes and turns her head away. I know this secret trick of hers. I know I am pissing her off but right now, I don’t care.
    “I probably just have another cold. I still get them easily.”
    This is some nerve-wracking stuff. I groan. “Let’s get you home so you can rest.”
    “Thank you,” she whispers, already half-asleep.

I stir awake as I feel Tristan carrying me up a flight of stairs. I crack my eyes open and notice we’re already in his condo. He lays me down on the king size bed, covering me with only a thin sheet. I guess he does this because I am sweating and he doesn’t want me getting hotter than I already am.
    “Evelyn baby, are you going to be alright while I’m gone?” There is a hesitation in his voice, as if he doesn’t want to leave me.
    “I’ll be all right. I just need rest and maybe a cold cloth.”
    I feel the bed dip a few moments later and a cold cloth pressing against my forehead. I crack my eyes open and smile at his worried expression.
    “Tristan, just go. I’ll be all right, I promise.”
    I can tell what I am saying isn’t working, so I guess I am gonna have to get mean. “Go!”
    “Ev,” he whispers.
    “Tristan, don’t make me mad please. I need rest and you have work to do. The faster you get it done the faster you can get back to me.”
    Maybe that will work.
    “Yeah, you’re right. Your purse is on the nightstand and so is your cell phone. Call if you need me Ev, please,” he begs.
    I tilt the washcloth up and stare into his beautiful green eyes. I reach up with a weak arm and cup his cheek with my hand.
    “I promise. Now go,” I say while my arm ungracefully falls back to the bed.
    My temperature is rising and I already know I need to call an ambulance. I want him to go first; he doesn’t need to see this. I don’t want him to see me like this. He just needs to go.
    “Tristan, can you write down your address for me?”
    His eyes go wide and I need to think fast.
    “I just need it if I’m going to be staying here a lot.”
    Tristan fights not to smile, but it doesn’t work. He grabs a pen and pad of paper out of the drawer of the nightstand and writes down his address.
    “There you go baby.” He places it on the bed next to me.
    “Thank you,” I sigh.
    “Okay, I’m gonna go. Don’t forget to call if you need anything.”
    I just nod and turn on a smile that is such a lie.
    He leans down and tries to kiss my lips but I pull away. I don’t want him to feel any more heat coming off of me. His eyes show hurt and I hate that I just caused that.
    “I don’t need you getting sick if you’re gonna be taking care of me.”
    He nods, thinking it’s probably best as well.
    “All right, bye baby.” He stands.
    “Bye.”
    I watch his back as he retreats out of the room to head down the stairs. I wait a few moments until I hear his jeep start up. I slowly sit up and my body aches at the smallest movement. I grab the pen and paper, writing Tristan a quick note to let him know where I am. I just don’t want him seeing me leave in an ambulance. I would rather he not know about the hospital either, but knowing Tristan, he would search all of