After Raya by Arnold Michelle

Author:Arnold, Michelle [Arnold, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-08-30T16:00:00+00:00

15

I woke up one sunny November morning feeling light as air. I didn’t think my life could be much better. Things were going great with Zoe, and in addition to going on a date every week (and talking more often than that), we had also been to two parties with her friends recently. The first was the big Halloween party, where I enjoyed being introduced as Zoe’s girlfriend. The second was an impromptu party her friends had thrown when Barack Obama was elected president. I was starting to feel more comfortable around her friends, like I actually belonged with them. I still felt a little reserved, as they seemed to still be evaluating me to some degree, but I was growing more confident.

I walked to work that day with a spring in my step. I knew my students had been noticing my good mood lately, and it was making my classes more enjoyable for everyone involved. It was as if the entire world had become a friendlier place.

On my break I sent Zoe a text message to ask her how she was doing, since she hadn’t been feeling well the previous night. A few minutes later I received a reply:

On my way to doctor. Not working today. Fever 104.

Shocked, I quickly typed a text back:

Should you be driving if you’re that sick?

I felt anxious as I waited for the reply. I knew she had to be feeling pretty bad, since she wasn’t typing in complete sentences as she normally did. Soon I heard the familiar jingle and flipped my phone open.

Not driving. Andrea’s taking me.

I was relieved that she had someone to take her, but it made me feel somewhat inadequate. I told myself I was silly to care. Of course she had called Andrea instead of me. She knew I had to work, but Andrea only worked in the evening. Still, I wanted to be the one taking her.

I didn’t hear back from her during the day, so I called her soon after I got home from work. She answered almost immediately.

“Guess what,” she said before launching into a coughing fit.

“What?”

She sniffed. “I have the flu. I can’t go to work for the rest of the week. They don’t want me exposing everyone.”

“You poor thing! Did the doctor give you anything for it?”

“No, she just said to rest and drink lots of fluids. We probably won’t be able to go out this weekend!”

“It’s okay. Just take care of yourself and don’t worry about it.”

“I hope I didn’t make you sick.”

“Well, I’ve had my flu shot. Did you get one this year?”

“No…”

“Well, maybe what you have is one of the strains that was in the shot. If it is, I shouldn’t get sick.”

“I hope so.” She sniffled miserably.

“Hey, I need to make a quick run to the store, but I’ll talk to you after that, okay?”

“Okay,” she said, sounding disappointed.

As soon as I hung up the phone I ran out to my car and drove to the nearest drugstore. Fifteen minutes later I was at Zoe’s door with a bagful of supplies.

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