Till Death Do Us Part
Things had quieted considerably, due to Brian?s intervention and pleas for Lucy to leave Charlotte alone. It had worked, mostly, but Charlotte missed her daughter; no matter how much chaos she brought. Though, she was thankful for the break. Things would stay calm. Hopefully.
Such terms gave Charlotte more time to relax and better care for herself. In fact, she?d had so much energy one night she thought she might be getting better. After spending the night having drinks, laughing, and enjoying conversation, Charlotte retreated home to Brian. She?d arrived to find him asleep on the couch; spectacles still perched on the bridge of his nose. Carefully she removed them, folded them, and set them on the side table; then covered him with the cream colored blanket from the back of the couch that she loved so much. Smiling, she watched him sleep, not having the heart to wake him just yet. After a time, she left him to go remove her make-up and get ready for bed.
Instead of getting one of her nightgowns, she opted for one of Brian?s old shirts and quickly threw it on. The cold air against her bare legs was quite unwelcome, but the feeling soon passed and she made for the bathroom. She turned the faucet on and let the water run; hands placed on either side of the sink, staring down at the drain. Nausea washed over her in sudden waves; unrelenting. She gulped in large amounts of air, trying to make it pass. Charlotte cupped her hands together under the water and then splashed the icy liquid over her face several times. That helped. It also removed her make up in the process. She was just about to look up when the nausea could not be ignored. Lurching for the toilet, Charlotte wretched several times; her knees buckling underneath her. Hot tears poured down her cheeks as she wiped her mouth and stood, shaking. Brown eyes glanced to the mirror a few feet away. She stepped towards it. Without the cover of make-up, the effects of her illness could be readily seen. Her skin was pale with a grayish tint to it; her face gaunt and thin; her eyes dull and seemingly void of any life. She looked terrible.
Anger was the dominant emotion in this moment. Charlotte watched as her face contorted into a grimace at the sight of herself. Something was wrong. She couldn?t deny it any longer. Brian was right; she should see a doctor. Picking up a drinking glass that Charlotte used to get water during the night, she rammed it into the mirror, shattering it.
What was with her and Brian about breaking mirrors?
~~~
Charlotte sat, very nervously, in the examination room of the RCFUI: The Rhy?Din Clinic for Unknown Illnesses. This was the third doctor she?d been sent to today. No one seemed to know exactly how to treat her. Stupid doctors. They should all die. Or so Charlotte thought.
Her feet swung back and forth idly as she sat on the edge of the mint colored examining table; the table legs creaking with each movement. Brown eyes surveyed the room with much interest?and terror. Instruments of every shape and size lined counters?some that even frightened this battle worn mage. Posters of the human body?and angel, werewolf, faerie, and something Charlotte couldn?t discern. There were plenty of machines as well, though Charlotte didn?t have the slightest clue what they were. She gave an involuntary shiver (hospital gown weren?t very good at protecting one?s body against the elements). At last, the doctor pushed the door open and came inside. Pleasantries exchanged, a few questions about previous health, and then it as down to the dirty work: Blood tests. Charlotte had been poked so many times that day in her arms, the Doc didn?t want to risk collapsing a vein or artery, so he had to take it from her wrist. Of course, everyone knows that hurts the most?and Charlotte pouted like a baby the whole time. She wouldn?t cry though. Nope. Nope, nope, nope.
Things had quieted considerably, due to Brian?s intervention and pleas for Lucy to leave Charlotte alone. It had worked, mostly, but Charlotte missed her daughter; no matter how much chaos she brought. Though, she was thankful for the break. Things would stay calm. Hopefully.
Such terms gave Charlotte more time to relax and better care for herself. In fact, she?d had so much energy one night she thought she might be getting better. After spending the night having drinks, laughing, and enjoying conversation, Charlotte retreated home to Brian. She?d arrived to find him asleep on the couch; spectacles still perched on the bridge of his nose. Carefully she removed them, folded them, and set them on the side table; then covered him with the cream colored blanket from the back of the couch that she loved so much. Smiling, she watched him sleep, not having the heart to wake him just yet. After a time, she left him to go remove her make-up and get ready for bed.
Instead of getting one of her nightgowns, she opted for one of Brian?s old shirts and quickly threw it on. The cold air against her bare legs was quite unwelcome, but the feeling soon passed and she made for the bathroom. She turned the faucet on and let the water run; hands placed on either side of the sink, staring down at the drain. Nausea washed over her in sudden waves; unrelenting. She gulped in large amounts of air, trying to make it pass. Charlotte cupped her hands together under the water and then splashed the icy liquid over her face several times. That helped. It also removed her make up in the process. She was just about to look up when the nausea could not be ignored. Lurching for the toilet, Charlotte wretched several times; her knees buckling underneath her. Hot tears poured down her cheeks as she wiped her mouth and stood, shaking. Brown eyes glanced to the mirror a few feet away. She stepped towards it. Without the cover of make-up, the effects of her illness could be readily seen. Her skin was pale with a grayish tint to it; her face gaunt and thin; her eyes dull and seemingly void of any life. She looked terrible.
Anger was the dominant emotion in this moment. Charlotte watched as her face contorted into a grimace at the sight of herself. Something was wrong. She couldn?t deny it any longer. Brian was right; she should see a doctor. Picking up a drinking glass that Charlotte used to get water during the night, she rammed it into the mirror, shattering it.
What was with her and Brian about breaking mirrors?
~~~
Charlotte sat, very nervously, in the examination room of the RCFUI: The Rhy?Din Clinic for Unknown Illnesses. This was the third doctor she?d been sent to today. No one seemed to know exactly how to treat her. Stupid doctors. They should all die. Or so Charlotte thought.
Her feet swung back and forth idly as she sat on the edge of the mint colored examining table; the table legs creaking with each movement. Brown eyes surveyed the room with much interest?and terror. Instruments of every shape and size lined counters?some that even frightened this battle worn mage. Posters of the human body?and angel, werewolf, faerie, and something Charlotte couldn?t discern. There were plenty of machines as well, though Charlotte didn?t have the slightest clue what they were. She gave an involuntary shiver (hospital gown weren?t very good at protecting one?s body against the elements). At last, the doctor pushed the door open and came inside. Pleasantries exchanged, a few questions about previous health, and then it as down to the dirty work: Blood tests. Charlotte had been poked so many times that day in her arms, the Doc didn?t want to risk collapsing a vein or artery, so he had to take it from her wrist. Of course, everyone knows that hurts the most?and Charlotte pouted like a baby the whole time. She wouldn?t cry though. Nope. Nope, nope, nope.