“Fisher told us you hadn’t been eating much and ordered us to bring you options.”
I can’t help but smile at the items. Water, some sort of juice, coffee, and something that even looks like Ginger Ale. On the food side of things there’s a small bowl of fruit, crackers, and toast.
“That man.”
I step aside to let them in.
“I feel really bad about this,” I tell them. “What if I’m contagious?”
Whimsy shrugs. “Then we kick Fisher out to bunk up with Noah or Elias and all of us take over this room so we can be sick together.”
I can’t help but smile. I’ve always liked Whimsy and I love her even more now. I’m blessed that she’s going to be my sister-in-law one day.
“We brought our pajamas with us. Do you mind if we change?” Sabrina asks.
“Not at all.”
They take turns changing and while they do I take a careful sip of the Ginger Ale and nibble on some crackers. I wait to see if my stomach is going to lurch in protest but it seems fine, so I snag a piece of toast. If I can keep some food down it’ll go a long way to making me feel better, I’m sure.
I climb into the middle of the bed and Whimsy joins me on one side and Sabrina on the other.
“If we’re going to watch a movie, might I suggest something from theJurassic Parkfranchise?”
I burst into laughter at Whimsy’s suggestion.
“I was thinking something more rom-com vibes and less gory.”
Whimsy scrunches her nose. “Those movies are not gory. In fact, I wish there was more gore, but fine I’ll settle for a rom-com.”
Sabrina leans around me. “Ebba is the sick one so she should get to pick anyway.”
“It’s fine,” Whimsy grumbles. “You two can just admit you don’t have taste.”
Sabrina and I both erupt into giggles. I make a mental note to take Whimsy to a dinosaur expo for her birthday. I bet she’d love it.
Sabrina passes me the remote and I scroll through until I find something of interest.
I’m finding it hard to keep my eyes open, though, as tired as I am. With how sick I’ve felt I’ve only been getting sleep in random bursts.
I try my hardest to stay awake, though, because I’m so grateful to have the company of my friends.
I remember when I was a kid my mom always told me to cherish my female friendships—that while family is forever, our friends are our chosen family, and that girlhood especially is something special. I asked her when girlhood stopped, that surely there must be an expiration on it, but she just smiled and said, “No, my sweet girl. Girlhood is everlasting. Just look around you and you’ll see.”
And I did.
In the group of older women giggling outside of a restaurant in Miami. In the little girls in my condo building who hang out by the pool making friendship bracelets. And in these two women who would drop their plans to hang out with their sick friend.
I wake with a jolt sometime later. Sabrina and Whimsy are no longer in the bed, but instead seated at the table by the windows speaking in hushed tones.
Sabrina notices I’m awake first and smiles in my direction. “Hey, Sleeping Beauty. How’d you rest?”
“Good.” I rub my eyes. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you guys.”
“It’s okay,” Whimsy says. “You need your rest.”
“But now that you’re awake”—Sabrina shoots a conspiratorial smile Whimsy’s way— “there’s something I want to do, but only if you want to, that is.”
“What is it?” I ask, sitting up and throwing the blankets off my body.
