“I like to think I’ve avoided the worst.” The worst was death.
“Yousounda little better.”
Shesounded hoarse and stuffy. He scanned her face. She looked exhausted. “Areyouall right?”
“I’m fine.” She shrugged and tucked her hair behind her ears. “I got a little touch of what you have—but I’m fine!”
Alarmed, he eyed her. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. The virus doesn’t affect me the way it did you. Now that you’re awake, can I get you anything?”
“Could I have a drink?”
“Of course!” She picked up the water vessel. “It’s empty. I’ll have to refill it. I’ll be right back.” She left to get the water.
He flung off the covers and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He stood up, and his knees almost buckled. His legs weren’t strong enough to support him. He staggered the two steps to the commode and relieved himself.
Legs wobbling, he turned to get into bed.
Laurel returned. “You shouldn’t be up.”
“I had to urinate.”
“You peed?”
“Buckets,” he said.
“That’s great!” She smiled for the first time.
“If you say so.” He did feel better though. But it was a bigger relief to collapse into bed. He rolled onto an elbow when she handed him the water. Thirstier than he’d realized, he drank half of it. “My throat isn’t so sore anymore,” he said.
“You seem much stronger, too.”
“I do?” He felt incredibly weak.
“Two days ago, you couldn’t have gotten out of bed.”
“I’ve been sick for two days?”
“Four. You sneezed for the first time four days ago.”
“Four days?”
She nodded. “Do you remember me putting bags of cold water under your arms?”
“Vaguely.” Reality and dreams had become confused.
“That was the day after you sneezed for the first time. Your temperature was sky-high—at least by human standards. I brought it down with the cold water, but you were pretty much out of it after that. You seemed incoherent a lot of the time, rambling on and on, repeating the same thing.”
“What did I say?”
“No idea. You were talking in your language.”
“Did I apologize to you, or did I dream it?” Certain he would die, he’d desperately needed to convey how he felt.
“You did do that.” She sat in the chair. “We can talk about this when you’re feeling better. For now, just understand that I don’t hold you responsible for the massacre, but I can’t forgive those who are. An apology can’t begin to compensate for what happened.”
“I did not mean to imply that it did.” He could feel a cough coming on and took a drink of water. “I need you to know I do not share my fellow Progg’s sentiments. I care deeply for you, Laurel.” He had to tell her. It had almost been too late.
