[Patrick]
I was just settling down into my office when my cell rang. Recognizing the ringtone, I answered.
"Hey baby, what's up?"
I never expected her pained panting to answer me. Panic seized my heart as I heard her pleading with me to come home. Angela was a tough person; life in Carnivals did that to people. I've never heard her suffer so much before. I quickly promised to do so and grabbed my unpacked stuff.
I gestured wildly to my colleagues, hoping they would understand the emergency and help explain to my boss. Sweat dripped down my back and down my temple as I rushed to our apartment.
When I reached inside, I called up urgently "Angela? Angie, baby, are you alright?"
I heard a whimper from the master bedroom and took two steps at a time up. She lay in a pile of rumpled bed sheets that were so carefully made and laid two hours ago. She was curled up, clutching her stomach while she squirmed in pain. Her brow was moist with sweat and strands of hair stuck to her forehead. I looked down at my feet and found her vomit on the floor. I tried not to wince as I crossed over to the bed and laid a hand on her cold cheek.
Awkwardness took over as I wondered if she was having menstrual cramps. She seemed to sense my hesitation and snapped, "No, Patrick, I'm not having my period now. Please, get me some aspirin from the drugstore?"
A sudden realization seemed to cross her eyes and her speech slowed down into a meaningful drawl. I let out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding and asked her what was the matter.
"Oh, I'm not sure, cramps or something… Aspirin, please?" She grimaced, as if to emphasize her point. I shrugged, fetching her a warm towel to clean up a bit. After wiping up the vomit I headed off to the nearby aspirin, trying to shake off the feeling that something was off.