Page 44 of Rock Me

[R4] CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Noémie

"Your mom called today," Paige tells me, about an hour after she’s been here. She’s spent the time catching me up on her love dramas and how her Dad wants her to start thinking about working for him next year. She still thinks that’s pretty funny.

"Mom called you?"

"Yeah. She didn't want to disturb you in case you were sleeping. And um, I think she wanted me to be the one to tell you."

"Tell me what?"

"They, um, they're probably not going to be able to come visit next week, like they planned.” She crunches her face up, probably annoyed she had to deliver the bad news. “I’m so sorry, I know how much you were looking forward to it.”

"Oh." The room suddenly seems darker, like someone's accidentally leaned on the light dimmer, throwing sinister shadows against the walls. I’d been counting the minutes until my family were going to come from Maine. They'd only been to visit once before, right after I was in the hospital. And even in those few days, everything was easier. "Did they say why?"

"Yeah, um, your mom and sister couldn’t get vacation time off like their boss had promised. Something about one of the other workers having to take some sudden time off for sickness."

"Oh." I nod, trying to understand.

"I'm so sorry,” she says again. And I know she is. She’s always been a little envious of my family and loves having them around almost as much as I do.

"It's... it's okay," I say, but it’s not. Suddenly the next day and week or however long I’m stuck here seems that much harder.

"Hey, I'm sure they'll sort something out and come over soon."

"Yeah, sure." I wave off her attempt to comfort me.

"Aaannd, you might not even be here in a week!" Her voice is louder and higher pitched now, like she’s trying to lighten the mood just with her perkiness.

"Yup. Maybe."

"Has the doctor said anything?"

"No, he's going to run some more tests next week to see how... you know, everything's working. And he'll decide then."

"Okay, well, I can come tomorrow, if you want."

"No. It's okay."

I'm suddenly tired. So tired I can barely keep my eyes open. My head aches and I lay back on the couch.

Sleep comes. But it's harsh and dark, and I wake up in a sweat.

There's ringing in my ears left over from the nightmares and the sound of screeching and scratching.

In my skull or against a window or on the roads, I don’t know. Something creating friction.

And everything is discordant.

It's past midnight. I must've slept over five hours. Paige is gone with just a bag of fruit left on the table to even remind me she was here.

I rifle through my short-term memory, then remember her telling me my family isn't coming to visit.

My heart sinks all over again, as though I’ve just heard the news for the first time. I drag my head from the couch cushion and shuffle over to pour myself a glass of water. I drink it down, the whole thing at once, and it's like a crystal waterfall in my brain, bringing life back into me, refreshing me.

I poke my head out into the hall, and see Robbie sitting there. He sees me and comes running over.

"Hey there, girl, how you feeling? You kinda zonked out there. I didn't wake you because you haven't really slept so well the last few days."