Day 47

Coming in, I'm relieved to not find Abraham or his genius little brother Maximilian. Although, it was funny to see Maximilian completely throw Kyle off with his knowledge of the reproductive system.

Instead, Kyle was laying down with his eyes closed. At first, I thought he was playing around, until I came closer and noticed he was breathing very deeply. I found this odd because he was usually awake when I came after school. Nadia entered and waved at me as she noticed that Kyle was tired too. "Is everything okay with him?" I asked Nadia.

Nadia shook her head as she whispered, "Not really. He had a hard time going to sleep last night is what I was told." Nadia shook her head as she added, "The overnight nurse called his parents to update them on Kyle's condition but as usual, she received their voicemail."

How Nadia told me that struck a chord with me. "What happened exactly?" Nadia looked uncomfortable and I felt bad for asking. "I know I'm not family but according to Kyle, I'm his mistress." Nadia started giggling after I said that. "So, I sort of am unofficial family and you're his wife in the birthday card narrative."

Raising her eyebrow she asked me, "And why should I let the mistress in on my husband's condition?"

"Because, you'd be a total bitch if you didn't, Nadia," grumbled Kyle.

"Oh look at that he's awake now," I replied as I sat next to his bedside with a birthday card. "You don't have to read it now. You can sleep for a bit more if you need to, Kyle."

Kyle stretched his arms towards me as he said, "And miss this beautiful sight, never." I hugged him as he whispered, "I'll tell you what happened when she's gone. I know you're worried, Renata."

"Uh Kyle?"

"Hmm?"

"You can let go of me now," I replied as Nadia was standing there staring at us, waiting with a pressure cuff in her hands. Finally I sighed as I added, "Your wife is waiting for you."

Nadia puts one hand on her hip as she said, "Yes, and I've been properly introduced to your mistress, finally. I want a divorce." Even Kyle laughed at that one, although weakly. I fought the urge to hold the hand that wasn't attached to the arm currently cuffed.

"You can't have one, Nadia. Not unless it's in the narrative," Kyle replied. "Isn't that right Renata?"

"Sure," I answered. Nadia slipped off Kyle's cuff as I glanced at the readings for his blood pressure. Kyle's was very low that day. The top number was less than 100 and I knew even then that wasn't normal for Kyle. Kyle was looking at what I was looking at and he slightly frowned.

"You're not allowed to worry for me, Renata," he said.

"What?" I asked him as Nadia frowned slightly herself as she carted the blood pressure machine away and left Kyle's room. "What are you talking about, of course I'm going to worry for you."

Kyle grabbed my hand and squeezed it lightly. "No, you're not allowed. I won't stand for it and if I see even a hint of worry on your face, I will ask you to leave my room before I start throwing stuff at you. Understood?"

"You're still throwing stuff at people? I thought you stopped that."

"No, I haven't," replied Kyle as he grabbed his birthday card and opened it. "Persephone goes to her first school dance and you're there as chaperone." He scrunches his nose up at this.

"What? You don't like dances?"

Kyle snorted as he said, "Oh no, I love dances. When I wasn't dancing I was well...having other types of fun. Being a chaperone is a nightmare."

"It is, why else do you think I placed it in the narrative? Not every aspect of your life is supposed to be rosy, you know." Kyle closed his birthday card and placed it on his night stand with a shaky hand.

"Get out," Kyle replied.

"Excuse me?" I asked him back.

"You have a worried look on your face, Renata and you're not allowed. So please, get out," Kyle said softly.

"No."

"You don't think I won't throw something at you," Kyle said with a raised brow. "I may be weak but I still have good aim."

"Kyle, could you tell me what happened?" I asked him. "You said you would."

Kyle looked at his hands for a moment before saying, "I couldn't go to sleep because I couldn't stop puking. My blood pressure's been the same since this morning. Nadia said that in between my episodes....I was calling out for you." Kyle shook his head and gave me a wry smile. "I don't even remember needing you that much. It's probably for the best though because I shouldn't need you."

I blinked some of the blurriness from my eyes away as I said, "Well, that's too bad Kyle. I know you don't need me but...do you want me?"

"No," said Kyle.

"Liar," I answered back.

"Then I see we've reached an impasse," Kyle replied with a smirk. "Permission to kiss the enemy, Miss?"

"I was never your enemy, Kyle," I said as we both leaned towards each other.