Page 235 of Finding Us

JADE

When I wake up, it’s dark again. I must’ve slept all day. My head is still pounding and my muscles still ache but at least the nauseous feeling isn’t as strong as before.

I turn over and see Garret lying next to me, wearing the clothes he was wearing Saturday night. He probably hasn’t left my side since I got sick. I kind of remember him helping me off the floor and I know I talked to him a little but I don’t remember what I said.

He’s sleeping now. He’s on top of the sheet with no blanket on him. I’ve got all the covers wrapped around me, yanked out of the bottom of the bed. I unwrap myself and place part of the blanket over Garret. Then I lay on his chest and fall back to sleep.

I have no idea what time it is when I wake up again, but bright sunshine fills the room. I look over and see that Garret is gone. I feel a little bit better so I get up to use the bathroom but my vision blacks out on the way there. I drop to my knees until it passes, then crawl the rest of the way and run right into Garret’s legs.

“Where are you going?” he asks.

I look up and see him wearing yellow cleaning gloves.

“I have to use the bathroom.”

“I just finished cleaning it so it’s all set.” He takes his gloves off and reaches under my arms. “You need some help?”

“Yeah, I blacked out.”

“You need to eat something. I made Jello and I have some soup if you want it.”

He helps me into the bathroom, then waits in the bedroom until I’m done.

“I think I’ll take a shower,” I tell him.

He comes back in and turns the shower on. “I’ll go in with you. You can’t shower alone. You can barely stand up.”

I’m so lightheaded I have to hold on to Garret as he washes my hair and then the rest of me.

Part of me can’t believe he’s doing all this. You understand love even more when someone’s there for you when you’re sick. I’ve never had that before. I’ve never had anyone help me when I was sick.

“I love you,” I say to Garret as he helps me get dressed after the shower.

He smiles as he tries to get my arm through the sleeve of my shirt. “I love you, too. But you’re really hard to dress. Undressing you is a lot easier.”

I laugh.

“I got you to laugh. That must mean you’re feeling better.”

“I feel better. I’m just weak.”

“I can fix that. I’ve got a whole assortment of get-better foods.”

“When did you go out?”

“I didn’t. I had Dylan go get them.”

“Harper’s friend?”

“Yeah. He’s a good guy. I talked to him at Nate’s apartment on Saturday. The game was kind of boring so Dylan and I went out on the deck and had a—” He stops before he says ‘beer.’ “Anyway, I think you’d like him.”

“Garret, I didn’t mean to yell at you about the beer. That had nothing to do with you. I was just tired and really cranky.”

“Don’t worry about it. Let’s get some food in you, okay?”

I nod.

He tucks me in bed and disappears into the kitchen, then comes back with soup, crackers, and Jello arranged on a tray.

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