Illness as an Ally
"WARNING: Humor may be hazardous to your illness." -Ellie Katz
Chapter 18: Does It Bother You?
After staring at the ceiling fan for about five minutes, I kick back my covers and turn over on my side. After our discussion of dreams, I've been hoping that an easily-broached conversational topic would reveal itself to me in the dimples between the layers of paint, but nothing has leapt out, salient at my supine form. So I scrunch up my eyes. (I'm facing the wall so Yami, who is still drifting around the room, will not see my weird little struggle written on my face.)
This is hard. What am I supposed to say? I, a newfound dilettante of superfluous verbal communication, can not come up with something provocative to say.
...Ok, so 'provocative' isn't the best word. How does Tea--
"Do Tea's friendship speeches bother you?" I wonder aloud. Tea is always a great topic of conversation. Easy, too, to talk about, and so close to my heart that the breaths I expel talking about her are almost palpable.
Yami looks at me, immense surprise etched on his face. Like, seriously, I really caught him off guard. He looks like I just asked him if he was going to a disco-themed prom.
"Of course not! It's not as if she gives them that often. Why, do they bother YOU?"
"Of course not," I scoff.
"Then why did you ask?"
"Just making conversation."
Yami seems to shuffle uncomfortably, but I don't know if it's really possible to scuff your toe against the floor when you're hanging a foot in the air.
"I thought you didn't want to talk."
I did tell him that, didn't I?
"Well, I changed me mind," I explain in my best Irish accent, sitting up and smiling. He gives me a dark, fretful look.
"Yugi, you still look kind of flushed. You should probably get some rest..."
Oh, alright... He thinks I'm weird. So, abort that mission. S'Alright. Baby steps, after all, baby steps. Besides, I have an exam tomorrow...
NOW I really don't want to go to school.