" All set," Aaron says as if it is supposed to make me feel better. A little out of sorts- although a little is an understatement,- I take my eye off Emmeline and turn to look at Aaron, not quite sure what to say.
Truth be told, I'm struggling to keep up with the events and all the information.
Briefly, I'm wondering if I've stepped into an alternative reality or worse I'm trapped in the dream world. And my body is slowly desiccating somewhere in the whole.
" We should go," Emmeline gently rubs my shoulders, but it feels as if it's been pulled out of its socket.
Body and mind, I'm frail.
Aaron nods, shoves his hands in his pockets and begins to make his way towards the door.
" We will have a long nice chat once we've had some rest," I don't know but that sounds like I'm in trouble. I hated the tone of voice he'd used.
Eventually, they leave me to it. I look around the room, trying to get a grip on myself. The room contains basic necessities. Nothing out of the ordinary. It has a bed, a few bedside tables, a desk lining the window wall, and in the middle, there is a small dining table.
My body feels like it's being poked by thousands of pins and needles. Finally, I'm thawing and a resemblance of feel returns to my hands. My feet are still very much frozen.
My clothes are slowly thawing as well, dripping water on the floor. I don't bother with it for the time being. All I can think is to get in the bath, so I can warm up. I'm pretty sure that Graham and Shay are making the most of it.
It feels strange being alone again. I had grown habituated to having them around.
Slowly I dip my toes into the warm water, and I realise I can barely feel it. I know it is there because I can see the steam rising, and the humid heat all around me clinging to my skin. I don't dare to look at myself. I do my best to keep my eyes on myself. I'm terrified to see what the recent events have done to me. I'm not prepared to deal with the mental aftermath.
Painfully slow, I lower myself in the bath, and let its warmth seep into my bones. The water must've cooled a few degrees because it doesn't feel as hot.
Or perhaps my nerve endings had decided to commit suicide rather than cope with the frigid cold.
I catch a glimpse of my toes, and I realise that my skin is blistering red.
Leaning back against the tub, I sigh and let it go. Because there is nothing I can do about it for now. Exhaustion claims me and I let myself drift away.
I'm jolted awake, by the sound of someone rustling inside the room. The water had turned cold, but at least I managed to squeeze in a nap.
My body is on the verge of a revolution against me the moment I push myself up, and force myself to stand. Not entirely steady on my feet, I clumsily stumble out of the bath and nearly fall flat on my face. Luckily the bathroom is not very spacious, and I managed to steady myself against the wall.
" Lily," I recognised the voice as being Emmeline's. She seems worried.
" I'm fine," I heave a breath of relief and straighten myself. With shaky hands, I fumble for a little while with the bathrobe but eventually succeed at putting it on. It's crooked, and inside out, but it's on. My hands are still trembling and I have a hard time tying the cord.
I'm greeted by the strawberry blond-haired woman, with fair skin and legs for days. She is tall, willowy, and angelically beautiful.
" How are you feeling?" She asks with a small smile taking in my slumping posture. I'm not very far from passing out. I need food.
" Like crap, " That was a pg rated version, and that was all my brain could muster at a moment's notice.
Emmeline nods and waves me to take a seat at the table, opposite hers.
I somehow made it without tripping but I must've taken quite a bit of time to do it because Emmeline had shifted in her seat several times. Probably to keep herself from standing and dragging my ass faster to the table.
Wincing, and stifling several groans of pain, I lower myself on the seat at the speed of a snail traversing the desert. Once again, Emmeline fidgets in her seat and I try to smile but I must look quite terrifying in the state than I am. Emmelline opens her mouth to say something but refrains from making any remarks.
Emmeline pushes a bowl of soup in front of me, and I struggle to keep myself from crying at the sight of it. Luckily the soup has more consistency than the watery soup we subsisted on for god knows how long.
" What day is it?" I scoop a spoonful of tepid soup and once again I feel it as it travels all the way down to my stomach.
" Twenty-fourth of February," I freeze at the news, and Emmeline smiles at me reassuringly. I've been gone for months.
" Enid?" I don't even dare to speak too many words, already aware of what it would do to me.
Emmeline frowns, and looks down, " She died, three months ago," Emmeline sighs, and curls her lips between her teeth. And I wish I would've followed Enid. I stare at Emmeline for a good while, and eventually, she produces a paper tissue and hands it to me.
" Heart attack, " She carries on, and I finally blink at the feel of something warm leeching down my cheeks.
I didn't even realise I was crying up until that moment.
" It's a lot to digest. We should leave the rest for when you're feeling better. Now, it's not the best moment to deal with sad news," Emmeline adds in a quiet voice and I have a feeling that she barely scraped the surface of the sad news pot.
" Eat. You need to regain your strength. It has been," She puffs her cheeks, with a desolate look in her eyes. I don't know the woman, but she seems to take things at heart and I don't want to say anything anymore. I just want to curl up in bed and forget the past few months of my life ever happened.