30 June 2012
She had been in bed about an hour when the coughing got worse. An unexplainable irritation at the back of her throat. She was so desperately tired and exhausted but she just couldn't sleep. By now Alex was in bed, snoring. He had brought her some water and some more paracetamols in the hope it would keep her quiet. He was flying the next morning so needed to get a decent nights sleep.
Another hour passed, and she was still awake, still coughing intermittently. . Her head heavy, the cavity between her eyes piercing. She tried sleeping in different positions but that didn't help. Eventually she said " you'd better sleep in the spare room. I'm keeping you awake." In happier times, this wouldn't have been an option. He would've stayed and tried to help her through.
The hours seemed to pass.she heard every noise in the house. The creaks in the attic, the expanding floorboards, even the distant hum of the fridge downstairs. She was restless still coughing through the witching hour then the dawn chorus. No sleep at all. She felt inexplicably alone and scared and the tears started to flow He didn't come and help her despite her sobs and pleas. At that moment in time, exhausted, she hated him, hated him for his stone cold heartedness. How could he ignore her? He said he loved her, but how could he leave her in such distress.
A Close Call Part 2 • Opuss № I