3. A fever
2315 Words
Vannessa woke up in the morning drenched in sweat, everything hurts and she can barely move. The headache is pounding through her head like a marching band on steroids. The naussia she’s feeling is even worse. What is this? And why now? She has never been sick one day in her life. Why does this have to spoil everything and just as her life took a small step to better? She tries to stand up and groans in pain as she flops back to the bed.
“Now what? I have to go to work in two hours.” She whispers to herself. Somehow talking to herself always made her think better. Not today it seems. Her mind is blank and her will is practically dead. She feels like a heavy stone being dragged under water.
“Morning!Are you awake?” Vittorio asks with a knock on her door.
“Yes.” Her voice is barely a whisper but somehow he heard her. She can see the door opening and he stralls in. Wow, he looks amazing today, she thinks.
“Are you feeling alright?” He asks her, concerned.
“No.” She whispers. There is not a sliver of strength in her to even talk normally.
“Oh, dear. Shall I take you to the doctor?” He inquires as he comes closer to her.
“No. I don’t have insurance.” She tries to shake her head and winces in pain.
“I can’t force you.” Vittorio smiles sadly. “Tell me how you feel?”
“Headache, everything hurts and I have a fever.” She whispers.
“I see. Looks like a hard case of the flu. I’ll get you something to eat and an aspirin. It’s always better to take pills with food.” He says and tucks her back under the covers. “Sorry I can’t give you anything stronger. My paramedics license is outdated and I don’t really have anything stronger here.”
“That’s OK. I was never sick before. I don’t understand why now.” She tells him.
She must have dozed off, because he is sitting there on the edge of her bed with a tray of food and a glass of water. The sun is behind him and he looks like a dark angel to her. Hello, mind? Why are you spewing such random thoughts? You should be thanking him for taking care of you.
“Thank you.” She whispers as even her throat hurts. “I hate to be a burden for you.”
“Don’t think like that. You are not a burden. Everyone is entitled to get sick.” He tells her and spoon feeds her a mush that tastes of nothing but goes down easy and doesn’t make her naussious. He follows that with a pill and water, makes her comfortable and is ready to leave.
“Oh, can I borrow your phone again? I have to call my boss at the cafe and tell her I can’t come today.” She asks him and he nods.
“Sure. I have to go to work, but I’ll check in on you at lunch and I’ll go shopping later. Having a guest in the house made me realize just how empty my cupboards are.”
-/-/-
Vittorio is sitting in his office and contemplating on calling Anjelica. He must talk with her about the boys and their behaviour and he is thinking whether to bring up Vannessa being ill or not. He is reaching for his phone when it rings and he smiles.
“Hey, you. Just the person I was thinking of calling.” He greets Anjelica.
“I thought you would.” She answers. “I sent you Vannessa’s file. It’s sad reading.”
“Not what I had in mind, but thank you.” He answers. “There is the pressing matter of the boys from the top floor. I don’t have the names, but you probably know who I mean.”
“Oh, they are grateful you saved them.” She says.
“They better be. Did they tell you that the three older ones were locked inside the bathroom and under cold water and the younger kid was in the bedroom, on the floor left for the fire?” He asks her.
“Oh my god! No.” Anjelica exclaims and he holds the phone away from his ear. “I know they are troubled kids. That’s why they live in a group home and not in foster care. But this will leave a mark on their records. I have to investigate. I have to bring this further.”
“I know.” He sighs. “I have the fire report. It started in the kitchen and there was an accelerant present. I hate to say it, but this was not an accident.”
“Damn!” Anjelica sighs. “Do you think I have a fire bug amongst my kids?”
“It looks like it.” He tells her. “Who was the oversight there at the time? I know Vannessa was at the coffee shop and just came home to help get the others out.”
“Mrs. D’Antonio. She’s an older lady that does this on a voluntary basis. She even took a couple of the girls home with her.” Anjelica tells him.
“You better start with her then.” Vittorio says. “I have to go. We can talk later if you need help.”
“Thank you for this. I’ll let you know.” She hangs up with a sigh.
Vittorio opens his email and reads the file Anjelica sent him. He can’t even imagine what Vannessa went through. He did have a safe and happy childhood, all his troubles seem like nothing compared to her life. And the worst thing he saw was in the line of his job. She had nothing from day one. Left in the hospital by a mother that didn’t even give her real name, shipped from one home to the other and never even considered for adoption. She ended up in a group home and Anjelica gave her a temp job when she turned 18.
“Oh, hell!” He exclaims. “It’s her birthday today.”
He wonders if he can rush the office work a bit and take the afternoon off. Maybe if I come in on Thursday for a few hours to make up the time? That might work, he thinks. He needs to do something nice for her today, maybe buy a small cake and watch a movie with her? Shopping list modifications and a stop at his favourite pastry shop.
He is on his way out when Alessio corners him by the bay doors. His cousin has mischief written all over his face. This is not good at all. He is late as it is and there is still all the shopping to do.
“I heard you picked up a stray. Do you miss Mateo so much?” Alessio muses.
“Ha ha, very funny.” Vittorio snaps. “She is not a stray. Her home burned down. And that is nothing to joke about.”
“Sorry.” Alessio apologises. “I was trying to lighten up your mood. You’re always so serious.”
“Not a good time. I’m late, I’m cranky and I had a tough conversation with Anjelica.” Vittorio tells his cousin.
“Oh, that. I saw the report. I’m glad that’s your job, not mine. She is a nice one. I would hate to tell her bad news.” Alessio nods and waves goodbye.
On the way from the store to the pastry shop, he calls Allegra with an important question. He figured she would be the best one to talk to, since she is similar in age with Vannessa.
“Hey, Vittorio. What’s up?” She answers right away.
“How did your exam go?” He asks.
“It was fine. I got a nine. Hope Vesna won’t be disappointed. Sometimes I think she expects more from me than my own parents.” Allegra laughs.
“She is a good influence. Stick with her.” Vittorio says. “On the other note. Vannessa was happy over all you gave her. Even that old school backpack of yours.”
“Really? That old thing? And I thought she might just throw it out, because I couldn’t get myself to do it.” Allegra is surprised to hear it.
“Aha. I’m calling you, because it’s her birthday today. Give me an idea for something small but thoughtful. And it’s not supposed to cost much.” He tells her.
“Buy her a small cake. I bet she didn’t get one, ever. I know a few kids from those group homes. They have it hard there. And a box of chocolates just for her.” Allegra tells him.
“You know kids from the group homes? How?” He wonders.
“There were a few at my high school. I always asked mom for extras with my lunch box. I used to share my lunch with two girls. By the end of my third year, mom finally asked what I did with all the food, because I was so skinny back then.” Allegra confesses to him.
“Good for you girl.” Vittorio praises her. “Thank you. I have to run now. I left her at home this morning with a fever.”
“Oh shoot. Poor girl. Call me if you need something.” Allegra says goodbye.
-/-/-
Vannessa is still in bed later that afternoon. She can’t remember ever just lazing around all day. She always had something to do. If it wasn’t school work, there were chores to do. Group homes are not hotels, they have to do most of the things themselves. And she volunteered for kitchen duty, she liked it there the most. It allowed her to forget reality and just cook.
She glances at the clock on the side table and it’s almost five. He didn’t come home at lunch time, so she figured there was something important for him to do at work. She just hopes it’s not another fire. And the fever is making her so sleepy, maybe she should just sleep some more and not think.
She can hear the front door open and close and the rustling of keys that finally makes her open her eyes and try to get up. She did feel a little better before, why can’t it last? What is this thing that keeps her down? She hates to feel this way, so useless and weak. What will he think about her, just lounging in bed all day? She should at least do something around the apartment. Maybe clean her room or the bathroom? Why am I thinking about this? Why can’t I get up and do something? Oh, I’m such a mess! She scolds herself but still gets nowhere with it. Her mind keeps dredging up new questions that she can’t answer or do anything about.
Vittorio walks in her room and he has a try with him. Oh, wow. He didn’t forget about me, she thinks and smiles at him. I hope that was a smile, not some stupid face!
“Hey. Feeling better?” He asks her. “I brought you some soup. It will go down easily.”
“Thank you.” She croaks and coughs. Her throat feels sore and dry.
“Oh ho. Maybe have a drink first.” He hands her a glass of water. “Did you sleep all day?”
“Yes.” She tells him sadly and the guilt returns.
“Hey! don’t beat yourself up. You can’t help it. You’re sick.” Vittorio smiles at her. “Is the fever still there?”
“Yes.” She nods. “And I feel like my body weighs a ton.”
“I see.” He nods to himself. “Here’s what we’re going to do. I’ll feed you this soup, then I’ll carry you over to the living room and find a movie to watch and we’ll have a nice early dinner with it.”
“You don’t have to.” She whispers and a blush creeps on her face. He would really carry her? There is no way she could ever repay this. Oh, god! She has another weird thought. Is he expecting some other services from me? Oh, s**t! I have to get out of here fast. I can’t do that! I can’t even move on my own. Did he poison me or something? Will he kill me when he gets tired of me? Nobody will ever find me!
“Vannessa! Vannessa!” He keeps saying her name, over and over. But she feels like she’s floating on air. She can’t grasp a single thought to even respond. What is it that he wants? She feels dizzy and she can’t focus on anything. But she can see that he picked her up and he’s carrying her somewhere.
- Writer
