Page 39 of Forever

CHAPTER 14

ANABEL

The alarm starts buzzing, and I groan loudly in protest. I start patting around my comforter in search of the stupid device, but once my hand curls around the cold metal I realize that’s not the source of all that noise. Intercom is.

Who the hell is at the door at this unholy hour?

It’s Saturday, the day when I get to sleep in because although I don’t have classes during the week I still have to get up early and go to the internship and then in the afternoons I work on my thesis or book.

Once the classes are done, that’s when real life kicks in.

So far, it sucks.

School simply can’t prepare you for real life. Eight to four or nine to five job. Getting up early in the morning five days a week. Doing the same stuff over and over again. At least while you’re in school you get variety in subjects and you don’t have to do the same thing every single day.

So yeah, real life sucks, and I’m one of the lucky ones who gets to do her own thing once this is all over. I can have my own schedule and be my own person.

Standing from the bed, I hurry to the door. Black spots darken my vision and I feel my legs wobble underneath me. I stumble, but somehow manage to stay on my feet.

Once I’m at the door I grip the door frame tightly. Closing my eyes, I will myself to take a few deep breaths in.

The intercom buzzes again, so I push the answer button blindly.

“Yes?”

“Bel? Where the hell are you?” Val’s annoyed voice greets me.

Shit!

I totally forgot about wedding dress shopping!

“I’m so sorry, Val! I overslept. Come inside, I’ll be ready in a few.”

Val finally pressured me into going wedding dress hunting. Pressured me, AKA told me she made reservations in a few salons and I have to show up.

I guess she’s just doing her job as the maid of honor. Because, let’s face it, I suck at being the bride. Mom and Emily are organizing the whole event and I couldn’t even get the one thing on my list done.

I unlock the door so she can enter once she’s here and hurry to my dresser to get something to wear. Obviously, that’s a wrong thing to do because the dark spots appear in my vision again and I can feel myself swoon on my legs. I’m drenched in cold sweat and my stomach is rolling unhappily.

What the hell is wrong with me?

The last few weeks have been stressful, but there is no need to feel this weak. Is there? I drink enough fluids, and even when I’m not hungry I make myself eat because I don’t have time to be sick. I try not to stay up too late, but I’ve been pretty restless lately and sleep doesn’t come easily.

The door opens and closes behind Valentina. A light breeze that enters with her brings the smell of her perfume to my nostrils.

“How the hell did you oversleep? You are never late!”

She leaves her stuff on the desk and turns to look at me. Her eyes narrow. “Are you okay? You look pale.”

My stomach rumbles in protest. Her perfume is so strong it fills the whole room instantly, and I feel the last night’s dinner making a reappearance. I cover my mouth with my hand as I turn on the heel of my feet and rush to the bathroom.

Good thing is I live in a small apartment, so I get there on time.

“Bel!” Val calls after me, but I don’t turn around. If I stop, I’ll make a mess all over the place.

My legs give up on me once I’m in the bathroom and my knees connect hard with the tiles. So hard I think it’ll leave a nasty bruise.

I empty last night’s dinner in the toilet. There wasn’t much to begin with, but I can’t seem to stop. Over and over I gag and heave, but there is nothing more in my stomach to empty.

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