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Driving as fast as she could, she got to town in half the time it had taken to get out to the farm. Relief washed through her as she found a parking spot in front of her door. After dragging herself out of the car, she quickly ran back to it to grab her computer—she was not coming down later for it.
She pulled off all her clothes outside her apartment door and left them in the hallway as she walked naked into her apartment and to her bathroom. She didn’t wait until the hot water started; she just climbed into the cold shower and shivered. As soon as she was soaked, she realized she had to take her medicine. Without drying off, she climbed out of the shower and took the pills that would help, then climbed back into the shower and stayed until the warm water ran out. But then the cold water felt good, so she stayed for another few minutes until her teeth were chattering.
She didn’t dry off. No matter how soft the towel was, it would just irritate the hives. Tess climbed into bed and texted her VP at the bank that she was taking two days off. Something she never did. Setting a timer on her phone for forty-eight hours she plugged it in, and let her medication put her to sleep. Maybe she should have just walked away from the wheat bin. She would have looked bad, but at least she would be alive.
* * *
Her timer wasn’t goingoff, so Tess knew she hadn’t missed work, but who was pounding on her door? If her memory was correct, she had gotten up four times for more pills, bathroom breaks, and a little to eat. Then back to bed.
Every time she was up, she looked a little better, but not good yet. Her face was actually clearing up fastest, so she might be able to work soon. But not today. Picking up her phone, she saw that it was only Thursday.
The pounding came again. Tess groaned and dragged herself out of bed, pulling on sweatpants and a sweatshirt as she went. She wished she could just be naked. It was more comfortable than clothes. She wondered if she could take more pills when whoever this was left. She decided she would.
Pulling the door open, she saw Mathias standing with his hand in position to pound on her door again. He looked her over and demanded, “Where have you been? I stopped at the bank to drop off your clothes, and they said you’ve been gone for three days.”
“Here,” she mumbled. Her mouth was really dry.
“Do you know your clothes are in the hallway?” He pointed to the pile she hadn’t done anything with, nor had her neighbor.
“Did you wash the sweatshirt?” She didn’t reach for the folded shirt in his arms. He also had her sandals on top of the shirt.
“Yes.”
“It can come in then.” She took the clothes from him and turned to get a glass of water. Her throat was dry too.
“Are you okay?” He had followed her to the kitchen.
“No.” She filled a glass with water, then looked at it in confusion. “Where did I get this?”
“Are you drunk?”
“I wish.” She laughed. Maybe she should drink some wine instead, but she took a drink of the water and said, “This is not wine.”
“Have you taken something?”
“Not enough. Tired.” She ran her hands over her face. “What time is it?”
“2:40 pm.” He looked at his watch.
“What day?”
“Thursday,” he said as if she should know that.
“I have to call in tomorrow. Oh, wait, I have a timer. I will do it then.” Smiling, she drank the water. She was tired, and she didn’t know what he was doing there, didn’t care. “I am going to bed.”
Walking past him, she walked into her bedroom, stripping as she walked. No way was she sleeping in clothes; they rubbed everywhere. She dropped onto the bed on her stomach, then pulled the pillow under her head.
“Tess, what’s wrong with your back?” Mathias asked from the doorway.
“Hives. Grain dust. Hives,” she mumbled into her pillow.
“Why didn’t you say something if it gives you hives?” he demanded.
“I did. You called me scared. I am not scared of anything.” She let the chilly air roll over her heated skin.
The thoughts rolling through her mind were jumbled and confusing, but she just let them go. She only had a few hours left before the pills wore off again, and she might be normal. Might.
* * *
