54: Chemistry

Dana

I ran to the bathroom, covering my mouth. I was going to throw up at any moment.

I reached the bathroom, went into a stall, and vomited. I felt tears running down my cheeks, but I didn’t pay attention to them. This wasn’t caused by the curse or the pregnancy. The nausea was provoked by their stupid comments, questions, and insistences. It was provoked by my father deceiving me and bringing me to a wedding celebration dinner without asking me.

I feel like I should have behaved with dignity and firmness at the table so none of them would achieve their goal, but I couldn’t do it. The situation overwhelmed me, and my emotions overflowed.

I held my stomach. It hurt, and the nausea didn’t go away.

My stall door opened, and I looked up in horror to see who it was. I thought it was a stranger, but it was Demian who intruded on my privacy. He looked down at me from his tall height while I was crouched against the toilet. He saw my tears and noted my deplorable state. I felt pathetic.

“Are