Though I've Never Woken Like This Before

"Feeling your side of the covers fall over me as you got up, I listened to the twelve steps you put between me and the bathroom. My eyes shuttered for a minute, as thoughts of you came. And I was woken again when your voice called to me.

"Jumping up and running to the bathroom, I found you sitting on the floor, head in hands. Your hair just long and dark enough to cover your swollen eyes.

"I asked, Darling - what's wrong? My legs were tired, shaking as I crouched down.

"You'd been awake all night, moving in and out of the bathroom, though I hadn't woken until this last time. There was now nothing left in your stomach, yet your body wanted to continue getting rid of whatever sick remained.

"No, you're not going to die, I said, comforting your worries. And then every summer-fear began streaming through my mind: West Nile, Lyme disease, spinal meningitis. So I said, Listen, it'll be all right. It's just the flu, as I held your hand.

"Then you asked me if I'd leave the bathroom for a minute. So I did. When I came back, you pointed out the blood that settled down at the bottom and proceeded to collapse on the floor.

"With all my 5am energy, I picked you up, wrapped a sweater around you, and brought you here," and I tried to keep my fears hidden as I looked at her sitting in that hospital bed.

"I'm sorry you had to see what was in the toilet," and she said embarrassingly and looked down at her robe, feeling around at the opening in the back. "Has anyone seen my butt?"

"Just me and the doctor," I half-smiled, seeing color coming back to her already pale face.

She half-smiled back. "I'm glad you woke up."

"There's a first time for everything. But I've been awake for awhile."