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BEVERLY
My stomach is still churning as I blindly search through all the medicines in the aisle. Part of it I’m sure is that every time I reach for something, the ring on my finger catches the light, blinding me with the reminder it’s there. I fiddled with it the entire ride from the library to here, my apprehension with wearing it mistaken as joy by Gavino. I can’t take my eyes off of it, so I must love it,right?
“Have you found anything?” Gavino’s shoes tap lightly on the tiled floor as he moves toward me, his hand tucking away his phone into his pocket.
“Uh, no.” I sigh, letting my arms drop to my sides. My eyes meet his before I look back at the shelf in front of me. “I don’t know what to get because I don’t really know what’s wrong.”
He nods, reaching out to finger a box of laxatives. “You sure you’re not just backed up?”
I snort at his joke, shaking my head. “I assure you, I am not.”
His arm moves, wrapping around my shoulders to tug me into his side. I swallow but don’t resist him as his fingers run along my upper arm. “Why don’t you go and ask the pharmacist if they have any recommendations?”
Chewing my lip, I nod, catching his eye. “Yeah, that’s a good idea.”
He smiles, his arm dropping as he shifts to the side. “Okay, you go do that and I’ll meet you in the car, I have to make another call.”
“Yeah, okay.” My smile stays in place until his back is turned, a deep breath whooshing out of my nose, and I swallow back more nausea.
Get a grip, Beverly.
Spinning on my heel, I make my way to the back of the store toward the pharmacists’ desk. Thankfully there isn’t a line and I’m able to step up to the counter right away.
An older woman with graying hair at her temples smiles at me over the counter, “How can I help you today? Are you picking up a prescription?”
Shaking my head, I place my hands on the counter in front of me, leaning against it. “No, I just haven’t been feeling well and I’m not sure what I should get for it—I was wondering if you could help me?”
She nods, setting down a clipboard she was holding off to the side. “Of course, what symptoms have you been having?”
“Um, mostly just nausea. I threw up earlier.” I chew on my lip as she nods.
“Okay, do you have a fever or chills?” I shake my head no and she continues, “What about any aches or pains you don’t have an explanation for?” Another shake of my head. “Have you had any questionable food in the last twenty-four hours?”
“No, not that I can think of. All I had this morning was some coffee and a bagel.”
She smiles, nodding. “Okay, well, that pretty much knocks out any standard illnesses. Do you mind if I ask if you’re on birth control?”
A man walks by behind me and I eye him over my shoulder before looking back at her with a shake of my head, my voice lowered. “Uh, no, I’m not.”
“And are you sexually active?” I feel the pink bloom over my cheeks but I do my best to ignore it when I nod. “Ah, okay. Do you think there may be a chance that you could be pregnant?”
I laugh despite the surge of panic that clenches my heart in its fist. “No, no, there’s no way.”Absolutely not.I amnotpregnant, My brain screams in reassurance, my hand waving the suggestion away. “No. I’m not pregnant.”
I’m not sure if I’m telling her or myself at this point.
She holds her hands up in a placating manner, a smile on her lips, “Okay, I just want to make sure we cover all bases so I can recommend the best product for you.” I nod, reining myself in and trying to settle my rising pulse. “Since all you have is nausea and you’re pretty sure you’re not pregnant, I suggest you pick up some Zofran or Dramamine from aisle seven. It’s usually used for motion sickness but should help with your general nausea as well. I also suggest drinking a bit of water—sipping, not chugging—and lying down for a bit. If your nausea doesn’t go away, I recommend scheduling a visit with your primary healthcare provider.”
I nod, smiling in thanks. “Okay, I’ll try that. Thank you.”
“Of course, honey. Have a good day, I hope you start to feel better.”
Pushing from the counter, I head toward aisle seven. It takes me a moment to find the nausea medication she was talking about, my thoughts racing. The pregnancy tests are located near them, just down the aisle a bit, and my pulse races as I stare at the boxes.I’m not pregnant.Ican’tbe pregnant.
“Hey, you find what you needed?”
I jump at Gavino’s voice, dropping the box of nausea medication I was holding. My palm presses to my heart, a small smile directed toward Gavino. “You scared the hell out of me.”
He leans to pick it up, handing it back to me, “Sorry, I thought you heard me walking up. You ready to go?” he asks, nodding toward the medication that’s back in my hand.
