Chapter 8 - Tyler

It has been several days now and I’m not getting better.  To be honest, I’m actually getting worse.  My body aches, and I’m cold even with multiple blankets covering me.  I can’t hardly get out of my bed on my own to go to the bathroom.  There is no way that I can even think about going to a restaurant to buy myself a meal. 

However, even if I could drag my feet out of my apartment in the hunt for some food, I’m not hungry.  Everything tastes bland.  Nothing even sounds good. 

I shiver under the blankets as the soft click of a door shutting drifts into my room. 

My eyes drift across the room towards the window.  However, instead of sunlight spilling through the glass, darkness is the only thing that I can see. 

What time is it?

My eyes slowly drift back to my nightstand and my phone.  I want to reach out and check the time, but I also don’t want the cold air to rush under the blankets.    

Reluctantly, I move my hand up towards the top of the blankets.  However, as the blankets shift, a rush of air pours in under the blankets.  A cold shiver runs down my spine as my breath hitches. 

Why did I even think trying to check the time is a good idea? 

I quickly retract my arm back to my side while I seal the top of the blankets once again. 

Just as a blurry figure walks into my room, my teeth begin to lightly chatter. 

Noah’s concerned voice fills the room.  “Tyler, are you all right?  You still look so pale.  I think you should go to the doctor.”

Doctor.  No.  I’m all right.  Well, I’m not all right, but I soon will be. 

I slowly shake my head.  With a hoarse voice, I choke out, “No.  I just need rest.”

Noah’s blurry figure slowly comes into focus as I pull all my energy together and concentrate on him.  His dark brown hair falls over his forehead as he sets a tray down on the nightstand. 

Normally, I would be jumping on Noah wanting to get to the delicious food, but not right now.  The sweet smell of the porridge almost has me gagging instead of licking my lips in anticipation. 

However, I need to keep my energy.  I need to eat something. 

As Noah sits on the bed beside me, he shakes his head.  “No.  I think you also need some medicine and food.  I can’t argue that you need some more sleep, but you look even paler than you did yesterday.  If look worse tomorrow, I’m not going to take no for an answer.  I’m going to take you to the doctor.”

I want to protest, but I simply don’t have the energy.  I faintly whine, “I’m fine.”

Noah shakes his head as he reaches towards the nightstand and grabs the bowl.  He glances back towards me as he grabs the spoon and stirs the porridge.  “Can you sit up on your own, or do you need me to help you?”

I slowly shake my head and mumble, “I’m not hungry.”  The words scratch at my dry throat as my eyes glance towards the glass of water sitting on the nightstand. 

My throat seems even drier as my eyes soak in the water.  If only I could actually drink the water with my eyes, I would be happy. 

Noah sighs and puts the bowl back onto the nightstand.  He then picks up the glass of water and puts a straw in it.  As he brings it closer to me, he says, “Let’s start with a little water first.  Then maybe you will have an appetite.”

I don’t know if that is how it works, but the water does look good. 

I try leaning my head forward a bit.  Luckily, I don’t have to move too much before Noah drops the end of the straw into his mouth.  I slowly close my eyes as I suck a bit of the cold water into my mouth. 

Ah.  That is what I need. 

The cool water rushes down my throat and quenches my thirst, but only for a moment.  However, my throat still burns slightly.

As my parched lips release the straw, Noah hums, “Drink some more water.  Then we will try and get some porridge in you.  You have to keep up your strength or you won’t get better.”

Somewhere in my cloudy mind, I know that he is right, but right now, the only thing that I can think about is staying in my little cocoon of blankets and going back to sleep.

I manage to drink a little bit more water before Noah takes the glass away and sets it back on the nightstand. 

However, instead of getting the bowl or porridge, Noah turns back towards me.  I don’t have the energy to protest as Noah tucks his hands under my arms and pulls me up upright.  He gently leans me back against the headboard before he turns back towards the porridge. 

Besides my body aches, the movement has, once again, allowed cold air to rush in around the top of the blankets and along my back, which burrows through my thin shirt and bites at my skin.  My body shivers while my teeth slightly chatter. 

Instead of focusing on my discomfort though, I pull my mind together and focus on getting better. 

A faint image of the Dean dances through my head.  I have to get better and get back to making him his food.  Suddenly, I realize that he hasn’t had anything to eat since I’ve been sick.  Well, I’m sure that he has been buying takeout food, but that isn’t good for him.  He needs some homemade food. 

With that one thought, I fight back the urge to burrow back into the blankets and not eat.  I have to get better, and I need my energy back. 

I turn my attention towards to Noah, who is now bringing the bowl of porridge towards me.  Even though the food tastes bland, I have to eat. 

Noah scoops up a bit of food and blows on it before he moves it towards me.  As I open my mouth, Noah softly mumbles, “You need to try to eat the whole bowl.  Then I’ll give you some medicine later.”

***

I slowly open my eyes and glance around the room.  What time is it?

I try to pull myself together, but I’m still clueless.  Shoot.  I don’t even know what day it is, let alone the time.

I try to throw my blankets off me, but I don’t have enough strength.  With a little struggle, I finally manage to pull the blankets back far enough so I can crawl out of bed. 

I slowly stumble towards the bathroom as my vision blurs.  No.  I can’t collapse now.  When I get back into bed, I can then collapse but not before. 

I breathe a sigh of relief when I finally reach the bathroom door.  As the room begins to spin again, I grab the doorframe and close my eyes.

Please, let me get through this. 

I take a deep breath as my legs begin to shake.  Slowly, I open my eyes and set them on my current goal.  I need to get to the toilet. 

I take another deep breath trying to calm myself and pool all my energy in my next destination.  As the ache in my belly continues to build, I slowly lick my chapped lips, which instantly sends little jolts of pain through each crack as the moisture from my tongue sinks in.

I can do this. 

Summoning all of my energy, I push myself off the doorframe and stumble towards the toilet.  Luckily, it isn’t too far. 

I drag myself back into my bed.  The bath has helped, but I’m still so weak that I can’t do much other than sleep.  I hope that I can kick this soon.  I have to get back to looking for a job. 

I curl up into a ball and pull the blankets up tight against my chin.  I’m so cold right now that I know I have a fever, but I don’t have the energy to go look for any medicine.  I should have thought about that when I was in the bathroom.  However, at that time, I was only concerned about using the toilet and then getting a bath.  I didn’t even think about me having a fever or taking medicine for it. 

Ugh….

As I nestle back into my pillow and my blankets, my mind wonders to Dean Hanson.  I wonder if he is eating since I haven’t been able to fix him anything.  I need to remember to talk to Mint about getting food to the Dean, when I actually find a job.

Brrrr…  

A cold shiver runs through my body.  I try to think of something new to fix the Dean, but my eyelids keep getting heavier and heavier.