Chapter 14

"I don't understand why we couldn't have gotten a bus. I was fine with a bus. Or the train! That still would've been cheaper."

Elphaba felt Galinda's hand settle on her thigh soothingly. "We're going to be getting in soon, Elphie. See? The inflight map says it's only about twenty minutes till we land."

"I know," Elphaba muttered. "But landing is almost the worst part of flying, just after taking off, which is by far the worst of any transportation-related event."

Galinda looked way too amused. "I didn't peg you for someone scared of flying. Where's your love of logic and reason?"

"There is no room for logic. We are in a heavy metal tube hurtling toward the ground." The plane was pretty small, too. Galinda no longer had any support from her parents, so her choices were very limited. They ended up with Gold Plains Air, a Munchkinland-based airline with decent reviews and a lot of deals. The flight was much longer than she thought it would be. Five hours in a plane was five hours too long. The bus trip would have taken much longer than she had estimated, though, and she supposed five hours of horror was better than almost ten days of travel. She always forgot how vast Munchkinland was.

Two flight attendants were handing out complimentary drinks again, thank god. Flights dried her throat. Elphaba asked for milk. Galinda got ginger ale. She watched the attendants with a little smile. "Aren't attendants pleasant?"

"They're hired to be easy on the eye," Elphaba replied absently.

"I wanted to be one when I was younger."

Elphaba was surprised. "That's an interesting childhood dream."

"It wasn't a dream," Galinda said. "My parents liked the idea. My careers officer at highschool encouraged me too. But it was mostly an idea for a job to have along with something artistic."

"I see." Elphaba glanced her over. "It'd suit you."

"Oh yeah?" Galinda managed a pose, despite the limited room. "I bet I'd look great in their uniform."

They wore black jackets lined with gold and a pencil skirt with stockings. She'd look hot. Elphaba glanced at the light up bathroom signs – all of them were engaged. "There's really no chance of privacy during a flight, is there?"

Galinda's hand was stroking her thigh very pleasantly. "Oh? I wonder what you'd need that for."

"There's this flight attendant that I'd really like to get alone."

"My gosh," Galinda said quietly with a grin. They looked at each other. Elphaba almost wanted to kiss her on the spot, though they were three seated rows. The lady beside Elphaba was old and asleep. Galinda bit her lip and sighed, looking away. "I'll keep my eye on those bathrooms."

"Honestly, I'm not sure I'd want to do that anyway. Can you imagine being stuck in one of those stalls when things get turbulent?" She grimaced at the thought. Galinda laughed at her.

"Elphie, they're made for that. There are bars to hold onto."

"Puny, useless bars," Elphaba muttered.

"Besides, you don't have a choice. It is on my bucket list to make out in a plane. If we get the chance, we're taking it."

"Oh, your bucket list. How can I say no now?"

Galinda ignored her remark. "Until then, we should occupy ourselves somehow else. Ever played twenty-one questions?"

She hadn't. It was exactly what it sounded like. Most of the questions were fairly light, and they made her realise how many ordinary things she didn't know about Galinda yet. It was a lot more fun than she thought it would have been.

Galinda was on her turn. "What's your favourite kind of music?"

"I listen to just about everything, but probably folk and indie music. You?"

"Electronic and hip hop. Stuff I can dance to."

"Are you a good dancer?"

Galinda clicked her tongue. "Not your turn. What genre would you consider the music you write?"

Elphaba shifted uncomfortably. "Folk and indie, I guess. I can write music, but I enjoy writing lyrics and singing most."

"You should let me hear a song of yours sometime."

"Maybe," Elphaba said noncommittally. "So. Can you dance?"

"Technically you've seen me dance before."

The stripclub. Elphaba buried her face in her hands. "Oh god."

"Oh please, you loved it." Galinda hesitated. "You loved it, right?"

Elphaba glanced at her gingerly. "Yeah, it was pretty great." Galinda looked very satisfied. "But you were clearly really drunk."

"I'll have to give you one sober sometime," She said with a sly smile. Elphaba was really, really keen on the idea. Galinda's hand was rubbing her thigh again. Elphaba glanced around the plane, and saw the bathroom symbol glowing green.

She pointed it out to Galinda, who immediately folded away her tray and got out of her seat, pulling Elphaba up behind her. Elphaba wasn't sure if she was excited or mortified, especially when she saw most people watching them as they crammed into the bathroom together. It was pretty obvious why they were going in there. She locked the door behind her. They glanced around the tiny box of a room. "This will be cosy."

Galinda pulled Elphaba's arms around her waist. "I'm fine with cosy," She murmured.

Galinda and Elphaba had kissed a lot since they'd become a Thing. Elphaba was getting kind of concerned, actually. She just wanted to be touching Galinda all the time, and she couldn't think of many things that felt as good as making out. Not just because of the kissing itself - which was plenty of fun - but because of how genuinely Galinda was into her. It was blowing her mind. Galinda wanted to touch her. Galinda pulled her into tiny aeroplane bathrooms just to kiss her.

"Oh, shoot, I wore lipstick," Galinda muttered, rubbing at Elphaba's lips. "This is a mess."

Elphaba looked at herself in the bathroom mirror and laughed aloud. "I look like some horrifying clown."

"We don't have any oils," Galinda said. Elphaba looked at her. "I can't just rub this stuff off, it's made to last."

"I'm not going out there like this, Galinda." Galinda gave her a look. "They're all going to be looking at us!"

"Time to do the walk of shame."

"You could lick it off."

"Oh my god."

They fell back on dry paper towels and persistence. It kind of worked. There was a knock on the door. "Are you alright in there?" It was a flight attendant. Galinda pulled open the door. The flight attendant's face told Elphaba exactly how she looked right now.

"Sorry," Galinda said in the kind of voice she used during phone calls. "My friend felt a little sick. Not good with flying."

"Of course, miss."

Elphaba covered her mouth as they went back to their seats. She fetched her oils immediately and wetted a napkin, handing it to Galinda. "Please fix this."

Galinda held her face and rubbed at her lips. "Should we go back to twenty one questions?"

"Sure," Elphaba murmured.

"Anything you're excited to do or see during this trip?"

"Not really."

Galinda stopped wiping. "You don't miss anything?"

"I'm looking forward to being in the library again."

"Of course," Galinda muttered fondly. "Your turn."

"Is there anything you're excited for?" Elphaba asked. Galinda hummed thoughtfully and went back to rubbing off the lipstick.

"Mostly meeting your sister. I am curious about the house, too, but meeting your sister certainly comes first."

"I'll have to give you a tour of the grounds when we get in."

"I would like that." They shared little smiles.

"As for Nessa… we'll see how it goes." Elphaba got the feeling Nessa and Galinda wouldn't get along. Nessa's impression was already off to a bad start, and Galinda wasn't used to people not liking her off the bat. "You're pretty different people."

Galinda made a soft noise. "Remember when we were in Frottica, and you said I reminded you of Nessa?"

"Yeah."

"You never did clarify that." Galinda's screwed up the paper. "You're all clear by the way."

"Thanks." Elphaba thought over it. "I think it's because you were so distressed at the time. I felt like I needed to take care of you. I've been taking care of Nessa my whole life."

Galinda's hand patted her knee. "You don't need to take care of me."

"I know. You are far more independent than Nessa. Though, she does have a particularly deliberating disability. It's not like she really has a choice."

"No arms, right?"

"Yes. Nanny, Nessa's old nurse, was her arms for much of her life, and so was I. Nanny had more of the embarrassing jobs, thank god."

"Embarrassing jobs?"

Elphaba gave her a look. "Personal hygiene."

"Oh, right." Galinda made a face. Elphaba chuckled at it. "I can't imagine having to rely on someone for that."

"It wore off fast for Nessa, I think. In many ways, I can see how it's affected her personality. It's made her very -" Elphaba tried to find the words. "Very honest."

"Oh, as "honest" as you? Now I'm excited."

"Yes, as "honest" as me. Perhaps even more so. You won't have to guess how Nessa feels about you."

"I see." Elphaba watched Galinda as she seemed to consider something. She glanced at Elphaba. "What jobs did you have?"

"Page turning. Hours of page turning. I'd often feed her, brush her hair, dress her. She always woke earlier than Nanny would, so I would help her get ready in the morning. Always fetching things for her. Discreetly scratching itches for her, or adjusting her clothing or hair. And of course, if we were walking, I would help her stay upright."

"That sounds… tiring," Galinda said delicately. Elphaba smirked at her.

"You mean a bother? It was too regular to be a bother. After doing it for so long, it comes almost as naturally as doing it for yourself."

"I suppose it would. It just seems like it would be a lot to keep on top of."

"It's not as preoccupying as you're imagining. Nessa is very good at giving a set of orders with a look. Even with the small things, I know how to read her body language so well she doesn't need to ask half the time."

Elphaba had a string of memories so similar and frequent they all blurred together. Reading holy texts in the library, Nessa on a sat pillow at Elphaba's feet. Constantly turning her pages. If Nessa tilted her head one way, she wanted her neck or ear scratched. If she tilted it the other, she wanted her hair brushed back over her shoulder. If she turned her profile to Elphaba, she wanted a sip of tea.

It was a bother. Elphaba was afraid of the day when their family could not afford to hire nurses anymore, and she would be asked to care of Nessa. She adored her sister, but she had too many things she wanted to do to be stuck there again.

Galinda brought her back with a little squeeze of her leg. "We're landing, put your belt on." Elphaba groaned at the thought. "Come on, it'll be okay."

"You don't know the weather. You're not a weather god." Galinda rolled her eyes and grabbed her hand, folding her fingers between Elphaba's. The shaking began. "Oh god. Oh no."

"Elphie, breath."

"We're so dead."

They were not dead. They landed safely, with the plane undamaged and a new set of half-moon indents on Galinda's knuckles. "Wow, you were really scared, huh?"

"Just leave me be." Galinda was laughing at her. They filled out a short form and went through customs, then picked up their luggage. When they came out of arrivals, Elphaba felt the familiar wave of stares settle over her. The stares in Gillikin and the stares in Munchkinland were distinctly different. Galinda picked up on it quickly, squeezing Elphaba's hand.

"Why is everyone looking at us like this?"

"I'm not just green here," Elphaba said. "I'm known." She looked out over the crowd and quickly spotted their little welcoming party.

Nessa stood with a young lady and an older man, the nurse and the driver, Elphaba supposed. Nessa looked much as Elphaba remembered her. She had her usual rigid posture. She wasn't any taller, but her hair had grown very long, and she was somehow slighter than before. Her skin was a pinkish bronze, and her hair fell in dark earthen-red waves. "There they are."

The driver and nurse took their luggage from them and left for the car. Elphaba went right over to Nessa, hands coming to her sides instinctively. She'd forgotten how much taller she was than her sister. "Nessa."

"Elphie." She was grinning, which was rare. She leaned against Elphaba, a kind of embrace, and sighed against her chest. "It is so good to see you."

"You too." Elphaba glanced toward the doors. "Was that your new nurse?"

"No, my nurse is at home. That is your ama." Elphaba began to object, but Nessa spoke over her in her strong and quiet way. "Just play along, please. Father is on his deathbed." Nessa glanced beyond Elphaba – at Galinda – and her smile disappeared. "Ah. She looks much like you described her."

"Don't be rude," Elphaba said uselessly. She shifted, and Galinda came forward. "Nessa, this is Galinda Arduenna. Galinda, this is Nessarose."

"It's good to finally meet you, Nessarose. I've heard all about you." Galinda laughed, a little flustered. "All good, of course."

Nessa tilted her head ever so slightly. "And I have heard about you." There was a pointed silence following this statement. "I hope Elphie has not been too much trouble?" Nessa cut her a sardonic look.

"She's just terrible." Elphaba scoffed. "No, she's fine. She's a very good roommate." Galinda gave Elphaba a wink. Elphaba felt the uncomfortable weight of Nessa's gaze on them and cleared her throat.

"Should we head to the house? Galinda and I haven't eaten since we left Shiz."

"Yes," Nessa said, turning smoothly on her heel. Elphaba rushed to keep her hand at her back. "Lunch will be prepared for us."

The family driver was waiting for them in a typical Munchkinlander car, a big vehicle suited for going off road and pulling weight. Nessa confirmed that it was new, bought by Frex with their grandfather's inheritance. "I told you, he hates that he can't drive," Nessa said. Elphaba shook her head gently at the news. The drive was two hours, and was mostly in silence.

The land around Colwen Grounds was vast and flat, mostly orchards and vineyards. You could see the property from miles away, because the forest and garden faced south and the highway came from the north. Colwen Grounds sat abruptly on the horizon, huge house jutting from old, dark trees of the surrounding gardens, and a high black-stone wall. The road to the gate was full of holes and half the trees lining it were dead. The old gate had been replaced for something mechanised and easier for the driver. "What a crime," Galinda said quietly.

The car pulled up right before the front doors. Elphaba got out and opened Nessa's door, lifting her to her feet. She propelled them over to Galinda, who was already inspecting the house. "What's the verdict?" Elphaba asked. Galinda glanced at her.

"It's certainly big."

"Yes."

"Very dark. Very imposing."

"It is."

"About what I expected," Galinda said, and looked to the car. "Should we get our bags?"

"The driver will bring them into the house," Nessa said. "Let us find your rooms. Elphie, your room has been kept as it was since you were last there. We have a number of guest rooms, Galinda. You may take your pick."

Elphaba and Galinda glanced at each other at once. Since the establishment of their relationship they'd shared a bed – for sleeping, that was. Elphaba knew Galinda wouldn't bring it up here. Elphaba decided to let it lie for now. They went into the house.

Elphaba found the first rooms of the house unsettling, as usual. The entryway was tiled with marble, and had a cloakroom on its right. At the end was a pair of stained glass doors that opened to the foyer. Either side of the foyer were two doors – to the sunroom and to the parlour – and two flights of stairs that went to the second story. Between the flight of stairs and beyond the foyer, the ground dropped, and down a short descent of steps was the state room. It was decorated sparsely, the large fireplace at the end of the room black and out of use. Elphaba remembered where some of the doors led – the door to the library, to the study, to the drawing room, the double doors that opened out to the courtyard – but she'd forgotten a lot of it.

It was amusing to watch Galinda craning here and there to stare at everything. Elphaba finally met Nessa's nurse, a middle aged woman who seemed kind enough. They went off to the bathroom. Elphaba held Galinda's waist, looking around with her. "Like it?"

"It's really weird," She said with a half smile. "You have Vinkan marble on the ground, brass inlays favoured in south Gillikin, the signature towers of old Munchkin farm mansions. Everything is confused because of all the politics."

"Politics?"

"Well, I would bet the Vinkan marble was added when the Vinkus agreed to help Munchkinland out of their drought thirty years ago. It has barely any wear. The brass inlays, on the other hand, have extensive oxidization, and were probably added during the civil war when Nest Hardings were trying desperately to negotiate for the assistance of the Gale Force." She moved down toward the state room. "See here, you have a Unionist mural on the feature wall while the ceiling is carved with pagan imagery."

Elphaba stared up at the ceiling open mouthed. "I'd never even noticed this before."

"It looks like it's one of the oldest things in this buildings." She looked at Elphaba. "It's a nice house."

Elphaba glanced up to the foyer. She stepped forward and touched Galinda's face, and kissed her. They pulled away dazedly. "Um, would you like to see the library?" Elphaba asked. Galinda was grinning.

"Sure."

It was exactly the same, down the pillows and their arrangement on the window seat opposite the doors. Elphaba sat there, watching Galinda survey the room. "There are a lot of books," Galinda said.

"Passed down through the family. Most of these belonged to my great great grandmother." Galinda sat beside her, looking out the window. The garden, overgrown in some places and dying in others, had been without a groundskeeper for years.

"Is this your favourite place in the house?" Galinda asked. Elphaba nodded. She didn't elaborate on all the memories it possessed. It had been her place. It was where Nessa and she had read together every day for many years. It was where she had written music, and spent late nights discussing theology with her father. It was a room of calm productivity, separate from the rest of the huge house, which was dark and empty, and made her nervous. Galinda took her by her hand and pulled her to her feet.

"Show me your old room."

Her room looked unoccupied. There was a desk, an office chair, an old-fashioned four poster bed that Galinda fell in love with. There were four tall, full bookcases. There was an empty wardrobe. Outside was a small but charming enough balcony. The only things that really made it Elphaba's room were the box of notebooks and papers tucked beneath her desk, and her mother's piano. The notebooks were full of music and lyrics she'd written in her teens. She didn't mention them to Galinda.

"Is it nostalgic?" Both Elphaba and Galinda turned at Nessa's voice from the door. "It's been almost three years since she was home," Nessa said to Galinda, though she was looking at Elphaba. "Never even visited."

"Nessa," She said quietly. Nessa stared back impassively. She glanced away.

"I'm just glad you're here now. Galinda, have you found a room?"

"I haven't," Galinda said hesitantly, looking between Nessa and Elphaba. Elphaba kept quiet.

"Come with me. There is one just a door down that I think will work just fine." Nessa looked at Elphaba, and there was a hardness to her look. "Go to father, in his study. He's been waiting for you."

"I was going to show Galinda around the grounds."

"We'll show her around," Nessa's nurse said with the best of intentions. Nessa quirked an eyebrow.

"Indeed, we will. Come, Miss Galinda." Galinda followed them a little unsurely. Elphaba waved for her to go on. She'd have to face her father sooner or later.

She knocked on the study doors and got a soft, half hearted reply. She opened the door. Frex was at his desk, a book open and his reading glasses on. He was a bit plump, and his beard and his features had sagged but kept his character. He was dressed as most Munchkinlanders would be, true to his ministry. He glanced at her when she entered, then did a double take. "My gosh, Fabala! You were arriving today?"

"Father." Elphaba stepped up to his desk. "Nessa didn't tell you?"

"Perhaps she did," He murmured, standing and moving around the desk. He pulled off his glasses and gave her a grimacing smile. "My memory isn't what it used ot be. Getting old. I'm glad you came down."

"Nessa spoke as if you were on the edge of death. You seem alright." That was partly true. He was standing, and he was functioning, but she could see pain and stress in the tension of his face, which looked pinched.

"She worries too much," He said. "By the grace of the Unnamed God, I feel as if I am beyond death. I spent too long in the marsh to die so early. There is more work to do than ever. The world is so far off its moral centre now, goodness seems impossible. Spellcraft is considered an art now, and the pride and selfishness of the north has infected so much of Oz. It's overwhelming."

"Settle down, father," Elphaba muttered. He was prone to waxing religious thought, but it was usually at least in context. He bumbled back into his table.

"You still aren't a Unionist, I suppose?" He said it with a weathered disappointment that neither of them felt anymore. "What are you doing with yourself these days, Fabala?"

"I am studying at Shiz university still."

"Biology?"

"International relations, though I study biology independently." He lifted his brows at that.

"What else are you studying?"

"Everything I can," She said. He waited for her to elaborate. "History, politics, literature. Especially the subsets that pertain to human and Animal rights."

"Ah, of course," He murmured, sounding pleased. "You still have your conviction."

"I wouldn't call it conviction." She couldn't help baiting him.

"You're doing a maunts work, though you won't admit it," He said with no strong feeling. That was exceptionally out of character - he must have been more tired than he was letting on. "And are you still writing music, Fabala? Do you still sing?"

Elphaba sat half on his desk and smiled faintly at him. "Sometimes."

"Would you sing me something?"

"Right here?"

He leaned back and smiled like some jolly man from a Lurinemas greeting card. "I would love nothing more."

"What should I sing?"

"Anything you want."

She thought it over, and decided on a song she had written when she was younger that he loved. He hadn't necessarily encouraged her songwriting, but she could tell this was one of the few that really impressed him. She hadn't sang since the sleepover - she cleared her throat and tested her voice. The acoustics of the room were decent, too. She sang.

She let the last note die and glanced at him. His eyes were wet - he blinked and looked away. "Beautiful, as always." She couldn't help a smile. "Is that recent?"

Elphaba's face dropped. "No. I wrote it when I was sixteen. You've always loved it."

"Oh." He laughed ingenuinely. Elphaba knew he was sick. She reminded herself very adamantly that he was sick, that it was taking his memory. She cleared her throat. She wanted to leave this conversation, but she should mention Turtle Heart. She wanted to.

"I recently found out Turtle Heart has become a very respected academic." Her father barely reacted. "You can look up his videos online. He's a good speaker. He was in Gillikin just a few months ago - Galinda, the person who came with me, saw him speak."

"On spellcraft?" He asked, though he clearly knew the answer. Elphaba bit her lip and watched him. He sighed and put his face in his hand. "It is a shame he went down such a path. He was a good man."

"He is a good man, from what I have seen." Frex did not respond. Elphaba could feel Frex and Turtle Heart's relationship like a black bubble between them. She wasn't sure when to pop it. It was their first conversation of her stay, so Elphaba decided it could wait. She stood from his desk. "I'm going to find Nessa and Galinda."

"Yes," He said, as if blinking back to consciousness. "Yes, of course." He put on his glasses and went back to his book.

Elphaba walked into the state room. She wasn't sure where Galinda and Nessa would be, and when she saw her supposed Ama for the trip standing by the door to the courtyard she went over and asked her. "Miss Nessarose and Miss Galinda are in the garden gazebo, miss."

"Thank you," Elphaba said shortly. The young woman shadowed her as she wove through the deadened flower beds, and saw them having tea. She stopped and looked at the ama. "What is your name?"

"Pfei, Miss."

"Pfei. Listen to me. I do not want an ama. I understand you must do your job, so all I ask is that you leave and wait elsewhere when I insist you must. The only men here are my father and brother, and Galinda and I will not be leaving the estate today, so you may go home. You'll be paid for a day's work."

"Even if they are your relatives, Miss Galinda-"

"Galinda and I are in a relationship."

The change was instantaneous. "Very well, miss," She said quickly. Elphaba watched her leave, then went up to Nessa and Galinda.

"Elphaba, good," Nessa began. "Can you tell that ama girl to get those figs we have? We still have some, right?"

"I let her go home," Elphaba said, taking a seat beside Nessa. "It's just father and Shell here. She isn't necessary."

Nessa was scowling. "How did you get her to leave? She was just as much for Galinda. You know we could face a fine if it were reported."

"No one actually takes that law seriously," Elphaba dismissed. She glanced at Galinda, then Nessa. "And anyway, Galinda and I are involved. The law wouldn't apply."

Nessa had turned to stone. Elphaba didn't understand why - she had made it fairly clear they were a couple, she thought, and Nessa had met her ex. Perhaps she just didn't want to face it.

"Elphaba," Nessa said quietly. "I would rather you didn't talk about that with me."

"I told you, Nessa."

"I don't want to hear it."

"You already knew this about me."

"Yes, I had it shoved in my face for two years! That was quite enough for me."

Galinda was staring down at the table, her brows furrowed. Elphaba touched her thigh and then stood up. "We're going to have a rest. Jetlag."

Nessa turned her head, a silent shunning. Elphaba took Galinda's hand and pulled them into the state room and up the stairs to her room.

She sat on her bed, sighing exhaustively. Galinda sat beside her. "Well, that was awkward," Galinda muttered. Elphaba nodded against her hands. "She really doesn't like me."

Elphaba looked up at her. "No," She said honestly. "But it's for stupid reasons. You're Gillikin. You're really, really Gillikin. And you're my girlfriend. I would be very surprised if Nessa liked you." Elphaba glanced up after a long stretch of silence. Galinda was staring off pensively. "Galinda?"

"She mentioned an ex. I didn't know you had an ex."

"I mentioned it, didn't I?"

"You mentioned someone that didn't go anywhere and wouldn't have worked."

"Exactly the case," Elphaba said. Galinda looked at her with a little frown.

"She said two years."

"We were only actually together for a year."

"A year is a long time, Elphie." She looked surprisingly angry.

Elphaba naturally went back on the defensive. "I suppose so, but I don't see how it matters. It's not as if she's a part of my life now. She has nothing to do with us."

"I know that," Galinda said impatiently.

"Then why are you angry?"

"Because I didn't know any of that. You know all about who I've dated and you know why. I thought your 'experience' was something unrequited."

"Well, that's what you get for assuming."

"You made it sound that way, Elphie, I assumed what anyone would."

Elphaba pinched her nose. "Okay, let me get this straight. You're not mad about me having an ex."

"Of course not."

"You're mad I didn't tell you the full story?"

"I'm mad I heard the barest, most essential details from your sister who hates me," Galinda said, quiet and snappishly. Elphaba frowned and chewed at her inner lip.

"Would you like me to tell you about her?"

"Not right now," Galinda muttered. She pushed up to her feet. "I think I'm tired after all." She glanced at Elphaba, barely. "What are the sleeping arrangements?"

"It's probably better if we get separate rooms," Elphaba said reluctantly. "It'll just make it harder for Nessa and father to warm up to you if we stayed together."

"Right." She rubbed her forehead and left the room. Elphaba felt like she should go after her. She felt like she should ask her to sleep here, tell her about her ex. She lay down on her bed and felt sick.