Chapter 35
Lucy
Watching Aria collapse, I rush towards her, cushioning her head before it hits the floor.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I mutter under my breath. What do I do? I try to think back to what Aria told me about her illness and what I should do if she faints.
“Protect the head, lie flat,” I mumble, laying her head gently on the floor and shifting her body around so she’s lying horizontal. “Should be up within five minutes.”
I rack my brain for any other information, but my thoughts are hazy.
Probably from a lack of food, my brain unhelpfully supplies, sounding eerily like Aria.
I know she’s right. I know I haven’t been taking care of myself, but it feels like I just can’t. Like there is a wall stopping me every time I try to move or eat or do anything to carry on as normal.
Because everything is not normal. Mama Betty is gone and there is nothing I can do to bring her back. At that thought, the haziness threatens to overtake me once more. Before I can sink back into the blissful numbness, Aria begins to stir.
“Hey, Cherry, can you hear me?” I ask, peering into her eyes as they begin to blink open. At first her gaze is unfocused, but each second that passes her storm gray eyes focus more and more on my face. Once she is fully conscious, she looks at me intently.
“I’m sorry for yelling at you,” she says softly, her eyes softening.
“I’m sorry for not listening,” I whisper back. She sits up slowly, careful as she inches her way into an upright position. “I-I’ll try to do better.”
“Princess.” She reaches over to take one of my hands. “It’s not about doing better. Just let me help when it all feels like too much, okay?”
I nod, tears filling my eyes once more. She reaches out her other hand and I crawl toward her, settling myself on her lap as I break down, sobbing into her shoulder. Her hand strokes up and down my back, letting me cry, but letting me know she’s there while I do.
When I feel a drop land on my shoulder, I pull back enough to see Aria crying too. In that moment, the grief doesn’t feel as heavy, knowing I am not left to bear it alone.
***
The haziness doesn’t disappear overnight.
A few days later, I wake up wrapped around Aria.
It’s my first day back to work. Although the crew said they are more than capable (which is absolutely true), Aria is right.
I can’t continue as I am. I need to try to get back into the swing of things and figure out what my new normal looks like.
As I sit up, Aria mumbles in her sleep and tries to pull me back into her embrace. I laugh softly at her sleepy protests, but I continue to untangle myself and press a kiss to her forehead before heading to shower and get ready for the day.
Finally dressed and feeling mostly human, I make my way quietly out of the apartment and head down the stairs. I am greeted by the smell of fresh brewed coffee and a sense of peace I wasn’t expecting.
I’m home.
Cierra is sipping on something, steam rising from the mug she holds in both her hands. She glances up at me and blinks a few times before accepting my presence.
“Ready for the day, boss?” she asks, her tone light and casual.
“As I’ll ever be,” I answer in the same tone, grateful for her nonchalance in this moment.
I stride to the front door and unlock it, switching the sign from “Closed” to “Open” and stepping back to greet the first customers of the day.