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As soon as Avid woke up, he realised something was off.. His limbs felt heavy and his thoughts were all fuzzy, it hurt to swallow, get up without feeling nauseous. He …caught a cold. He was used to it by now. Ever since he got that scar when he was younger, his immune system has become weaker over the years, one of the reasons he never really went out to hunt, only preparing the things needed for his partner.
Avid further pressed his cheek into the soft, cool pillow of his bed, closing his eyes tightly as another shiver passed through him. He felt like he was being boiled alive. His head was aching, like it was being split open. He tossed and turned in bed, trying to find a position that would relieve at least a bit of his discomfort.
He wanted to move, yell, and try and ask for help, but he couldn't. His throat was too sore and his body too weak.
He felt like vomiting each time he tried.
The back of his throat felt like it was burning from how many times bile went up from his now empty stomach. He’s lucky he put a bowl next to his bed before it got too bad.
Tears welled up in his eyes again. He was frustrated at himself for being this weak, for his body being this weak. He just wanted it to end, he didn’t care how. He doesn’t want to be ill, to be the one who always needs to be taken care of.
He hates being this vulnerable.
He whimpered softly, forcing himself to sit upright. Everything hurt. His vision dragged, the room spun. He looked down at his trembling hands, the blanket soothingly cold in comparison to himself. He pressed himself further into that cold, it was so comforting.
Someone knocked on the door.
„Hello,“ a familiar voice rang out from outside the door. „Avid, are you home?“
Shelby, thank goodness. It’s Shelby! Relief washed over Avid, which was short lived because he buckled over again, another wave of nausea hitting him.
“Yeah… I’m home. Is there something you need?” His voice sounded croaky and pathetic. “You can come in.“
The door eased open, and Shelby walked inside the small home. Her eyes landed on Avid curled up miserably in his bed. She froze in the entryway for a moment before she stepped inside and closed the door behind herself.
„Oh.. wow.. um, Avid. You look..“
His face flushed red with embarrassment. His hair was all matted and he probably smelled as well.
Her voice softened. „Are you okay?“
She stepped forward, coming closer to him.
„It’s.. you just didn’t answer the door for a while, so I got a bit worried.“
Did he?.. Avid whimpered and tried to straighten himself up a bit.
„I, uhm..I just.”
his grip tightened on the blanket
“I’m fine.. I’m just tired.. Shelby . Tired..“
Shelby squinted her eyes in suspicion, clearly she didn’t believe a word.
She slowly stepped closer to his bed, setting her hands down on her knee, leaning down to his level.
“Drift asked me to ask you if you want to go with our group, we were all going out in the forest, but..” She brushed her hand against his forehead before he could flinch away.
Shelby recoiled from the heat, she gasped. „Avid! You're burning up!“
“Why in the world have you not told anyone?” Shelby asked sternly, putting her hands on her hips, standing up straight.
Avid shrank under her gaze. He wasn’t entirely sure. Why didn’t he?
„I... didn't want to bother anyone,“ he gripped his sheets tighter. „And it’s… it’s not even that bad, I feel... I’m fine.”
He was obviously lying. He attempted looking anywhere but at her, that was harder than he thought it would be.
„Avid.. you’re not bothering anyone. Especially when you’re actually sick! You can’t just stay quiet about these things, you know.”
Shelby put down the bowl and sat down on the chair next to Avid. She reached her hand out to brush his hair out of his face. “I’ll make some tea for you, alright?”
Avid waved his hands dismissively, stumbling over his words. “Wh- no! No.. it’s fine, really.. you said you wanted to go out with the others, that’s.. um, you can. I.. I don’t wanna ruin your fun or anything like that! Don’t worry, Shelby..”
Shelby’s expression didn’t change from one of worry, her concern almost palpable. “Avid.. it’s okay, really. I can go another day. I won’t be able to have fun knowing you’re feeling so sick here. Let me at least make you feel a bit better.”
She gently stroked his forehead before pulling away and getting up. “I’ll be right back.”
“Alright…”
After around ten minutes, Shelby returned with a cup of tea, sitting down and handing it to Avid gently. “Careful, it’s still a bit hot,” she warned.
“Yes, okay.. thank you.”
Nonetheless, Avid brought it up to his lips and started drinking. He immediately pulled away after burning his tongue, and then got scolded by Shelby about the fact that she warned him to be careful.
Avid doubled over, the coiling feeling in his stomach growing again. “Oh ghn.. nnh, god!”
Shelby quickly grabbed the bowl, placing it onto Avid’s lap and stroking Avid’s back as he threw up again. After Avid stopped, slightly dazed and teary, she put away the bowl and shifted closer with the chair.
“Shh, sh.. it’s gonna be okay.. you’re gonna be fine, mhm?” She comforted him, wiping the excess bile from his mouth. “The tea isn’t as hot anymore, here. Drink some.”
She brought it up to his lips and tipped it slightly. He obeyed, taking tiny mouthfuls, before she placed it back onto the bedside table.
“I.. I.. thank you, Shelby..” He looked away, his throat tight with nausea.
“You have nothing to thank me for, Avid.” She was trying really hard not to get frustrated. “You can literally barely sit up.”
“That’s not true..” Avid whimpered.
“I.. Shelby.. I just.. didn’t want you to see me like this.”
She tilted her head. “Like.. what?”
He curled more into himself, he swallowed. “Weak, gross, pitiful…” His voice grew quieter with each word.
Shelby’s gaze softened slightly.
“Avid, being sick is normal. It doesn’t make you pitiful or weak or gross! What even made you think that? That’s stupid, Avid! Really, really stupid.”
She grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently. “Understood?”
“Yes.. but,” Avid started, but she interrupted him before he could even start.
“No buts, Avid!!” She sighed. “I’m gonna get you a wet towel. I’ll ask Legundo to check up on you once he’s back.”
Shelby disappeared out of sight again. Avid slumped down on his bed.
When she returned, she placed the towel onto Avid’s forehead. It was so cool compared to him, it felt nice. He could feel himself relaxing a bit.
“I can read something for you if you’d like.. like… a goodnight story! After all, you need rest, Avid.” She suggested, fiddling with her red hair. “Or maybe I could come up with my own story and tell it to you. Would that help a bit, or is that too much..?”
She glanced over at him hopefully.
“Oh, uh.. well, I don’t mind.. I.. yes, that would be nice actually..” he said quietly.
Now that she mentioned it, he felt so exhausted. He hasn’t slept properly in days, he was so paranoid and anxious about everything that he forgot that he also needs to take care of himself, not just worry about others.
“Oh, yaay! Well, in that case I’ll think of something.. hmm.. umm..” She tapped her chin, an exaggerated expression of thought on her face.
“Once upon a time there was a sweet prince.
He, who had recently been just a little boy, was being forced into marriage with a girl from a different kingdom.
He had no interest in marriage or anything like that in the first place, he wanted to read, to engross himself into other worlds, to escape from the harsh expectations of a prince, soon to be king. He decided to run away.
He packed his bag and ran deep into the dark woods. It was cold and wet outside, wolves could be heard howling, but he still did not intend on turning back, not once. After a few hours, his legs grew numb and tired, but he heard a quiet, silent sobbing, it wasn’t far away.
The sweet prince got up and looked for the source of the cry, and saw a crouched boy. He looked his age and had snow white hair and eyes as red as blood. Red tears fell from his eyes. A vampire. But the boy did not fear, instead he asked the poor creature what was wrong.
“Why are you crying?” the prince asked.
The vampire told him of his troubles, of his pain.
Vampires weren’t like the monsters people wrote about them in books, the prince thought, and sat down next to him.
Soon they became friends, helped each other, and lived in a small house they’d built for themselves in the woods.”
Avid interrupted her. “That’s silly.”
He looked over to Shelby. “Vampires and humans can’t be friends.”
“Yeah..” She looked almost… conflicted.
“Well, it’s time to go to bed, Avid, okay? I promise I’ll be there when you wake up, okay?”
She grabbed his head, tilted it over to her, and leaned in, kissing his forehead.
he flushed red “U.. Shelby- .. u, h. Oh, yes, I.”
Avid tried to say something, but was too flustered, at which Shelby giggled.
“Goodnight, sweet dreams.”