--------
(Rina's point of view..... )
*Bwaakkkh' Bwaaaakhhh*
The guttural retch echoed through the dimly lit room, a grotesque symphony heralding the start of a new day.
I found myself ensnared in the clutches of an unrelenting illness that had made itself known with each violent upheaval.
My feeble body, a mere vessel for the torment I was enduring, seemed to betray me as weakness coursed through my very core.
The first tendrils of consciousness crept in, and my senses were immediately assaulted by a nauseous miasma that clung to the air like a malevolent specter.
The taste that clung to my tongue was a bitter reminder of the ordeal that had been unfolding within me, a bitter symphony of discomfort and despair.
The room itself felt like a sepulcher of suffering, its shadows concealing the source of my torment.
Beads of cold sweat dotted my forehead, a testament to the physical and emotional turmoil that had raged within me throughout the night.
Each breath was a laborious task, as though the very act of existence had become a burden too heavy to bear.
And so, with each convulsion, with each wrenching sound that tore from my throat.
The persistent and unexplained nature of my frequent vomiting had me deeply concerned.
Initially, I brushed it off, attributing it to something minor, perhaps a stomach bug or something I ate.
However, as time passed, this unsettling pattern began to manifest with greater frequency, especially during the early morning hours.
Each episode left me not only physically drained but also mentally reluctant to face the day ahead.
The uncertainty surrounding the cause of my recurrent vomiting began to haunt my thoughts.
I couldn't shake the worry that it might be an indication of a severe underlying illness.
The anxiety stemming from this uncertainty weighed heavily on me, creating a constant sense of unease.
Amid this turmoil, my mind raced with insecurities...
I couldn't help but contemplate the impact this potential illness might have on my life, and the thought that Erwin, the person I cared deeply for, might not love me under such circumstances only intensified my distress.
These fears and doubts gnawed at me, making every day feel like a struggle.
After each bout of vomiting, I found myself retreating to the safety of my bed, seeking refuge from the physical and emotional turmoil that had become my daily companion.
The room became a sanctuary, a place where I could briefly escape from the relentless worry that had taken hold of my life.
The pain from the previous night's encounter with Erwin still lingered in my body, a painful reminder of his erratic behavior.
It wasn't the first time he had treated me with such aggression, and each time, I questioned my choices.
"He's a mad dog," I thought bitterly, wondering how I had ended up in such a tumultuous relationship.
My weakness overtook me, and I collapsed back onto my bed, my eyes growing heavy.
Exhaustion and uncertainty clouded my thoughts as I drifted into a fitful slumber.
---
When I awoke, it was already 3:00 pm. My stomach growled, a reminder of my neglected hunger.
I knew I needed to eat, but my solitude weighed heavily on me.
The house was eerily quiet, and I realized I would be alone for three consecutive days, a prospect that filled me with loneliness.
I shuffled slowly through the kitchen, longing for something to quell my hunger.
However, my hopes were dashed when I opened the fridge, revealing its nearly empty contents.
A few strawberries and some vegetables were all that remained.
There wasn't even a scrap of meat to cook and satiate my rumbling stomach.
Frustration welled up within me, but at the same time, I felt relief that Erwin wasn't here to witness our lack of food.
He'd surely berate me for not keeping our kitchen well-stocked.
I decided to satisfy my immediate hunger with the strawberries, even though they were his favorite.
In his absence, I felt justified in indulging myself.
The sweet and juicy strawberries provided momentary respite from my hunger, and I quickly devoured them.
As I gazed at the empty bowl, I marveled at how delicious they were even without the addition of milk. I made a mental note to buy more for my next meal.
Glancing around the disheveled house, I sighed.
Erwin's scattered clothes and the remnants of last night's wine bottle were reminders of his chaotic presence.
The unwashed dishes and glasses further highlighted the never-ending chores that awaited me.
We had chosen not to hire a maid, and I couldn't help but wonder if Erwin's reasons ran deeper than mere frugality.
I recalled his insistence that I handle all the household chores. It had been a daunting transition for me, coming from a life where I had been pampered like a princess.
But I had adapted, partly driven by Erwin's preference for women who excelled at domestic tasks.
He often compared me to Helena, a comparison that grated my nerves and motivated me to improve.
After a period of adjustment, I became proficient in cooking, cleaning, and even laundry.
It was a far cry from my previous life, but I had accepted it as part of my role in this enigmatic relationship.
The secrecy surrounding our marriage only added to the complexity of our situation...
We had deliberately kept it hidden from all but a select few, fearing the consequences of public exposure, given our families' prominence in the business world.
As I finished cleaning up the mess, I resolved to head out for groceries.
After a refreshing shower and a quick change into casual attire, I set out for the mall.
My car was my escape from the quiet house, and it provided a semblance of normalcy in my life.
----------
Arriving at the mall, I pulled out my shopping list, determined to stock up on essentials.
While browsing the grocery store aisles, I couldn't resist the allure of strawberries.
They had become a rare treat for me, considering Erwin's fondness for them.
I added them to my cart, already envisioning a delightful dessert.
As I continued my shopping, I reached the napkin section and paused....
It struck me that I hadn't included napkins on my list, a trivial oversight.
But as I debated whether to grab a pack, a more pressing concern took hold of my thoughts.
As I stood there in the grocery store, clutching a pack of napkins and pondering the alarming realization that my menstrual cycle had been absent for over a month, a wave of anxiety washed over me.
I couldn't help but connect this concerning development to my frequent bouts of morning vomiting.
Questions raced through my mind, each more distressing than the last.
Could this be a sign of a serious illness? Or was it a manifestation of something else entirely?
My thoughts were in turmoil, and my stomach churned, not just from hunger, but from the anxiety that had taken hold of me.
I desperately hoped that this wasn't a harbinger of something grave.
"I hope it's not," I muttered to myself, my voice trembling with apprehension.
My menstrual cycle had gone missing for over a month.
Panic gripped me as I realized the significance of this delay.
A month was far longer than my usual 28-day cycle, and my mind raced with fear and uncertainty.
What could this mean? Why had my body betrayed me in this way?
With a heavy heart, I continued shopping, my mind plagued by a growing sense of foreboding.
The questions and worries that had haunted me earlier had multiplied, leaving me to confront a potentially life-altering mystery.