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Chapter Twenty-Three
The Illness Of Love
Ethel was still sad about losing Starlight the next day, but Esmerelda came in the room gushing.
"My sister is so sweet and loving and kind," she said hugging her with loving eyes. It was true she drove her insane with it, the number of times they got in trouble because of Ethel nursing animals but it didn't mean it wasn't sweet. The girl gushed over it and hugged her sister who was so sweet at missing a bird.
"Oww Esmie my ribs" Ethel complained as she squeezed
"My little animal sweet lover Ethie-Weathie," she said being every bit the embarrassing big sister. Sybil looked at Mildred and snorted but Mildred looked back at the sisters, feeling jealously rage through her at the fact Esmerelda could hug her like that whenever she wanted.
"I just hope he is safe and happy," Ethel said still upset but happy she had helped him.
Ethel though had a new worry and the next day, after checking that no-one was around she took herself to the nurse's room. The nurse was a strict woman but cared immensely for her pupils.
"I haven't been feeling so great," Ethel told her having not said anything to her sisters knowing they would panic and call an ambulance but she didn't know where else to go.
"What is your name?" the woman said as she had not treated her before.
"Ethel Hallow" the blonde replied
"Okay sit down Ethel so I can check you over, now what are your symptoms," the woman asked her concerned.
"My stomach hurts and I can't stop sweating, I feel like it is about 40oc when it is winter," Ethel said explaining. The woman worried about her having a fever put the thermometer in her mouth.
"Normal, when did this start and how long does it last?" the woman asked her
"After the talent show when I was speaking to my room-mate, it is always there when she is around and a while after...I think someone might be drugging me, I lose my ability to think straight and feel like I am dreaming" Ethel said worried even more.
The nurse looked at her trying to hide a hint of a smile. "Anything else?" the woman asked her.
"A first year whacked me in the face with their broomstick the other day as they weren't paying attention, I didn't even feel it, maybe it is my pain rectors that are messed up," Ethel said explaining more symptoms.
"But they can't be as you get stomach pain," the woman told her and Ethel nodded having not realised that.
"Ethel...I can't treat you because you are not ill" the woman told her thinking the blonde, as smart as she was still clueless as to what was going on.
"My stomach says otherwise," Ethel said annoyed the woman wasn't listening.
"Not feeling pain, upset stomach, feeling like you are living a dream, sweating...tell me do you ever find yourself staring or thinking about your room-mate?" the woman went on trying to hint to Ethel without telling her.
"Yes, I can't read anymore as my mind drifts to her and her annoying plaits!" Ethel said and this time the woman couldn't help it she smirked.
"Ethel you are not sick, you are just very much falling in love," the woman told her, knowing she was having feelings for the other girl, nothing else.
Ethel stared at her wide-eyed, she couldn't believe it, she wouldn't believe it, she didn't now and would never love Mildred Hubble.
"No you are wrong, I am Ethel Hallow I don't fall in love, especially not with her!" Ethel said struggling to take it in.
"The heart wants what it wants, you are in love, you don't have a horrible illness," the woman told her, smiling at the girl not realising.
"No..." Ethel said refusing to accept it "I am not in love with Mildred Hubble, she is so annoying and her hair is weird but her brown eyes are pretty ...oh my Merlin, I am in love with Mildred Hubble," Ethel said realising she didn't hate the girl, she loved her, that is why she couldn't get her off her mind.
"Yes you are, it is alright Ethel it is natural," the nurse told her
"You can't tell anyone about this" Ethel said worried now
"Everything will be confidential, now on you go, you will be late, lessons are about to start," the woman told her. Ethel left but went to her bedroom, skipping lessons.
"Ethel are you okay why were you not...ooooooo," Mildred said tripping on her feet and falling into the bedroom. She lay there a few seconds then sat up triumphantly "I am okay!" Mildred said. Ethel looked at her, god why did her annoying habits have to be so liberating to Ethel.
"How do you manage to trip on air Mildred Hubble?" the girl asked her but then sighed as Mildred stood. Ethel was lying on her side, head resting on her pillow, miserable, she didn't want to love Mildred, she couldn't, her parents would disown her.
"Ethel? are you alright?" Mildred asked not having of seen the girl so miserable in so long, her eyes were red-stained she had been crying.
"My stomach hurts," Ethel said truthfully but she didn't say why
"Go to the nurse she can give you something" Mildred suggested to her friend. God she loved her, she couldn't stand her in pain, her heart ached at the sight of her in pain.
"It is just...woman's problems...I get them bad at times...cramps I mean" Ethel said thinking even this topic was less embarrassing than admitting she loved the brunette.
"Oh that sucks, I feel you, do you want a hot water bottle or something?" Mildred asked, being a girl as well she knew exactly how the pains of the menstrual cycle could get you down.
Ethel moved so she was sitting up, staring into Mildred's chocolate eyes, god why did she have to love her so much, she opened her mouth a few times, trying to stop herself saying what she wanted as she knew she would live to regret this.
"Can I have a hug?" Ethel asked softly looking into Mildred's eyes deeply. Mildred sat taken aback for a few moments knowing how much the girl hated physical contact outside her family and how awkward the last hug had being.
"I am sorry forget I said that," Ethel said realising what she said and turning red embarrassed. Mildred came to her senses at that moment.
"You can have one if you want, whenever you want," Mildred told her, not turning her down when she knew how big a step it was for Ethel to ask. Mildred leaned forward wrapping her arms around her and unlike last time felt Ethel wrap her arms around her waist. Ethel held her tightly, feeling her stomach burn with desire, electricity go through her veins, this was one of the best feelings in the world even if she knew it was wrong and she knew in that moment, somewhere along the line she had fallen in love with her worst enemy. Mildred Hubble. She knew the girl would never love her back but at that moment she never wanted the hug to end.