Mary rushed down to the living room in a state of panic, while I remained lost in my own world, trying to catch my breath. As I attempted to calm myself down, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was being a burden to those around me. Was it right to share my worries and anxieties with them, or was I only contributing to their problems?
Soon after, my eyes began to water. Luckily, Aunt Jes and Mary flashed into the room. Aunt Jes quickly spotted a folder on the table and used it to fan me while Mary fetched some water. Since there was no fan in the room, Aunt Jes resorted to this method. Gradually, my breathing returned to normal. Mary handed me the water, looking nervous and struggling to hide her emotions.
Once I caught my breath, they helped me sit properly on the bed to regain my strength. I wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but Andrius had arrived with the doctor who had visited me the day before. Mary had placed the phone on the side table since I had dropped it earlier.
Upon entering the room, the doctor promptly placed his stethoscope on my chest. I couldn’t help but notice the glistening beads of sweat on his forehead, as if he was in a hurry. His eyes were brimming with intense anger.
“I already warned you about her need to avoid things that have caused her trauma! Are you listening?” His tone wasn’t raised, yet it was insistent. As he gazed into my eyes, his voice became gentler. “How are you feeling, Caroline?”
“That was an accident! I didn’t mean to do it. Please, consider her condition and don’t get angry,” Andrius replied, giving me a reassuring smile to convey that everything was okay.
“Don't tell me what to do! This is the reason I'm here,” Mark sneered.
I wanted to ask if they were having a quarrel and if I was the reason for it. However, the intensity of the scene became too overwhelming for my weary eyes to bear, compelling me to surrender to darkness as I closed my lids, seeking solace in the absence of sight.
I couldn’t tell how many hours I had slept, but when I glanced towards the end of my bed where my feet were, I saw Andrius. He was sitting with his back to me, his laptop open and his attention fixed on the screen. The room was dark, and he wore glasses that only added to his sex appeal, especially with the way he was so focused on his work.
As I gazed longingly through the glass pane, my eyes were met with a breathtaking sight - the velvety cloak of night had descended upon the world. The once vibrant hues of the day had given way to a symphony of darkness, as the moon's gentle glow cast an ethereal light on the landscape. The stars, like shimmering diamonds scattered across a celestial canvas, twinkled with an otherworldly brilliance. The stillness of the night enveloped me, as if in nature.
As I sat in the bed, enveloped in silence, the gentle hum of the air conditioner filled the air, providing a soothing background melody to my thoughts.
As soon as he sensed my presence, he turned towards me and took off his glasses. Grabbing a plate from the table, he switched on the light and pulled out a chair. “Here, have some spaghetti pasta. I baked it especially for you,” he said.
“T-thank you,” I muttered. “You? Have you already eaten?”
As I opened my mouth to speak, a feeble whisper escaped, barely carrying the weight of my words. The air, hesitant and fragile, seemed to delay before reluctantly leaving the confines of my lips. I desperately attempted to draw in a deep breath, hoping to replenish my dwindling energy reserves. Alas, my efforts proved fruitless, as the air seemed to elude me.
“I suggest not forcing yourself if you’re still unable to,” he said in a cold tone.
His tone sent shivers down my spine and made my hair stand on end. I couldn’t shake the feeling that perhaps he was mad at me for being a burden.
When I failed to eat my food, he reached over and took my plate, scooping up the pasta with the fork. I was caught off guard when he held the fork up to my mouth, and firmly stated, “You have to eat or else you won't recover.”
With hesitation, I opened my mouth and began to chew the food. As I ate, he got up to fetch some water while I watched silently. When he returned, I noticed the bowl was almost empty. It felt as though I was being looked after like a child, despite being old enough to take care of myself. Even though I wanted to take the bowl from him, I was too afraid that he would become angry, so I allowed him to assist me in eating it.
The final spoonful had tumbled onto the bed, leaving a smudge of sauce on my face. As we gazed down, we noticed a small dribble of sauce on my lips as well.
“You’ve got sauce in here,” he said, pointing to his face to show me where the sauce was. His dark eyes made it seem like he was annoyed. However, what he did next surprised me immensely...
I was frozen in shock when he suddenly licked the side of my lip and then his lower lip, almost as if he was trying to savor the flavor of the sauce.