Chapter
47
As Darlene wheeled Elyssa back to her room when the chemo
session was over, the first wave of nausea hit her. It hit suddenly, causing her to clamp her
hand over her mouth for fear she would throw up.
“You okay, honey?” Darlene asked, noticing Elyssa’s sudden
movement.
“Please, get me back to me room,” Elyssa managed to say,
choking back bile. Darlene whisked her
back to her room and into bed, handing her a basin.
“In case you need to get sick,” the nurse said with a
knowing smile.
Elyssa nodded weakly, hoping she would not need it. Unfortunately, only a minute later, the
nausea increased, and she found herself heaving into the basin. Darlene wiped her mouth and eased her back
into bed, placing a cool washcloth over her forehead. She had no more rinsed out the basin when
Elyssa used it again.
It went on like that for over an hour, with Elyssa throwing
up constantly. Finally, her stomach
settled a bit and allowed her to drift off to sleep.
***
“Is she okay?” AJ demanded as soon as Darlene came out of
Elyssa’s room. The nurse had been in
there with Elyssa for the past hour, not letting any of them come in. Knowing enough about chemo, AJ had a pretty
good idea of what had been going on.
“She’s sleeping now,” Darlene replied. “Don’t worry, she’ll be okay.” She gave AJ a sympathetic smile.
AJ nodded. “Can I go
and see her now?”
“You better let her get her rest. Why don’t you wait and come back when she’s awake
and feeling better?” Darlene suggested.
AJ sighed, still annoyed that Elyssa didn’t want him with
her, but he relented. If she wanted to
be alone, he would let her. He would do
anything for her, no matter how much it hurt him.
***
Taking Darlene up on her suggestion, AJ waited until the
next morning to try and see Elyssa again.
As he headed down the hall to her room, he prayed she would want to see
him. He was getting very worried about
her.
The door to her room was open just a crack. AJ peeked through that crack and could just
barely see Elyssa, lying in bed on her side, her back to him. Unsure if she was sleeping of not, AJ
knocked lightly. No answer.
Taking his chances, AJ opened the door silently and stepped
into the room. Elyssa did not
stir. He heard her deep, slow breathing
and realized she was asleep.
Not wanting to wake her, but not wanting to leave either,
AJ opted to sit down beside her bed. He
sat in a chair on the far side of her bed, so her face was to him. She looked peaceful and beautiful as she
slept, although AJ was alarmed by how pale her usually tan skin looked. The hollows around her eyes were dark with
fatigue, and her long blonde hair was limp and dull looking. Still, she would always be beautiful to AJ.
AJ clapped a hand over his mouth to stifle back a
cough. Unfortunately, the slight noise
was just enough to awaken Elyssa. She
let out a soft moan, and her eyelids began to flutter. Soon, her blue eyes were open, and she was
staring up at him.
“AJ?” she asked softly.
“Hi, Lyssa,” he said, offering her a wary smile. She smiled tiredly back, and AJ relaxed a
bit. It was good to see her smile at him
again.
Elyssa yawned and sat up, adjusting her pillows so that
they rested behind her back, propping her up.
“What time is it?” she asked.
“Only eight,” AJ confessed.
“Eight? What are you
doing up at eight?” Elyssa laughed. “You
never get up this early unless you have to.”
“I had to,” AJ said.
“I had to come see you.”
“You didn’t have to, AJ,” Elyssa pointed out. “I’m not gonna up and die, you know.”
It was supposed to be a joke, but AJ felt sick to his
stomach at her words, realizing that now it might not be so far from
reality. But he didn’t want to upset
Elyssa, so he chuckled forcedly and said, “No, but I would die if I didn’t see
you right away.” He flashed her an
endearing grin.
Elyssa rolled her eyes, but she was touched by his
comment. “AJ,” she started, “I’m
sorry.”
“What for, babe?” AJ asked.
“I’m sure you know what for,” she said. “I haven’t exactly been the best girlfriend
lately.”
“Lyss, it’s okay,” AJ said gently.
“No, it’s not. I’ve
been a total bitch to you, and you didn’t do anything to deserve that. I was just sick and tired of being treated
like some kind of porcelain doll, but I know that isn’t your fault. You were just trying to be a good
boyfriend.”
“That’s true. I
mean, I was trying to be a good boyfriend.
I didn’t realize I was being too overprotective. It’s just that you mean so much to me. I love you so much, and I don’t know what I
would do without you,” AJ said, his voice filled with sincerity.
“I love you too, AJ.
Always remember that,” Elyssa said.
AJ smiled, and pulled her gently into a hug. “I know, baby,” he whispered into her ear. “I know.”
***
