Chapter 7: Too Close for Comfort

"When a young man gets this strange feeling, something happens with his body."

"Has it happened to you before?"

"…Yes."

My heart skips a beat. Maybe another girl, a prettier 'young woman' has made him feel this way too…

"It's so odd because I only seem to feel funny when it involves…"Atem clears his throat again and grabs my hand, staring me directly in the eyes. "You, Mana."

My face goes completely scarlet. I can't tell if any of this is real...or not. Let's see...I'm in a bedroom with the Pharaoh, on the bed with him right next to me, staring into my eyes passionately and telling me that he…he…Suddenly, my stomach churns and a strange, bitter taste fills the back of my mouth.

"What I'm trying to say is, well, I…"

But what does all of this mean? Does he love me? Is this the moment I've been waiting for for so long? My mind races and my head throbs. My heart must be beating loud enough for Atem to hear it. I try to focus on nothing but the present, but the pain in my lower abdoman is making it very difficult. I squint as my vision begins to blurr. What's happenning to me? Am I going to black out like earlier?

"Mana? Are you alright? You aren't looking too well again." His eyes widened as my one hand shot up to my mouth.

And before I could even process what was going on, I vomitted all over the floor. I began to cry and cover my face out of humiliation. I just threw up infront of the man I'm in love with! Now he's going to think I'm disgusting…

"I-I-I'm so sorry!" I cry. "Oh my Ra let me go and get a rag to clean this up!" I quickly stand, but am unable to move. I look back to see Atem holding my wrist, same as he did earlier.

"No way in Hell are you going anywhere, Mana!" His voice is very stern. It makes my tears spill faster. "Please stop crying…"Gently, he raises his free hand to my face and brushes away my cascading tears. "Tell me what's wrong, please, or what's been bothering you…"

I stand before him, scared, unsure, and shaking. He gives me a slight smile as he pulls me close to him. His body is warm and my arms instinctively wrap around him. I can't stop crying. His hands rub my back soothingly. "I…I don't know how to answer any of those questions, Atem…because I don't know what's been up with me lately myself!" He raises my chin and lets out a sigh.

"Alright, well…"He pushes a strand of my hair back. "Do you feel better now?"

"Huh?"

"Your stomach…Do you feel better now that it's been emptied?"

I meekly nod. "I'm really sorry about that…I know it's grotesque. I truly didn't know I was going to vomit. I would have certainly left the room if I had any knowledge of it happenning."

He smiles again and shakes his head. "Don't you worry about it, Mana. You have nothing to apologize for. I'm just glad you are feeling better."

"Yeah…thanks." I look away from him. "I still have to clean this up, so…"

"I'll take care of it. You lie down. You are not well and I'm going to have to fetch the healer."

My heart skips a beat and I feel myself panic. "A d-doctor?!" I've had a fear of medicine and needles since I was very young. When I was about six or seven years old, I came down with a horrible fever. It was a lot like Tuberculosis, but a different form of it which they diagnosed as "The Shamarian Virus". I couldn't play with any of my friends, or be around anyone. I stayed secluded in a small, white room that had no windows and contained many sharp shringes and what appeared to me as torture devices. There were so many tools consisting of saws, and daggers with over a hundred teeth. I didn't ever want to be in an enviornment such as that one again.

"Yes Mana. You are ill…I want to make sure you are alright."

"But I am! I'm just fine now! It must've been something I ate or…" I stop as pain erupts my body again. It feels as if a knife is cutting across my lower middle. I feel a great burning in my legs and sweat forming on my forehead and underarms.

"Mana, I had the same breakfast you did. This could be serious and I won't let anything happen to you. You need to see a doctor immediately."

As he's saying all of this, my stomach is having a war within me. It feels so strange and horrible like nothing I have ever experienced before in my life…and then it hits me. I felt the same way last month; about thirty days ago.

"A doctor will not be necessary, Atemu."

"What?" He looks at me sternly. "Would you mind telling me why?"

"Because…"I swallow hard and inhale deeply. "I'm going through womanhood, Atem…" My cheeks are flushed a bright pink. I watch his face tint as well untill it matches the rosey complexion of mine. I never in a million light years thought I'd be here, telling the Pharaoh that I was menstruating, nor did I believe he'd have such a bewildered expression plastered on his handsome countenance.

"Oh…I see."

"I'm sorry. Believe me I didn't want to tell you this, really. It's just that I dread healers and I can't stand to see you worried. Especially if it's over me…"

His face softens and the tension, or akwardness, between us, seems to die down. "You must forgive me, Mana," Atem starts, "I am not much informed of the female anatomy, or becoming of a woman process. As you know, I'm quite shy and topics such as these, that involve the other sex that is, make me feel…embarressed."

"Embarressed? How do you think I'm holding out over here, Pharaoh? I'm completely and utterly humiliated!" I cover my face with both hands and then look towards the door. "But can I tell you something?"

He blinks a few times and nods. "Of course. You know you can tell me anything. These last couple of days should be proof of that." He smiles reassuringly.

I blush deeper. "I'm actually kind of…glad that I shared this moment with you. I mean…I am growing up and you were probably going to find out later on, or maybe you've already assumed that I've gone through this before…"

Atem seems to be thinking. "Is this why…and you don't have to answer this if you do not wish to, but is this why you have been acting so peculiar recently?"

I laugh. I guess this works out after all. I can blame my weird behavior on my cycle and he'll be none the wiser! He doesn't have to know that I love him. Now he wont have any reason to be suspicious of my true feelings for him…This, this is good, right? I mean this is what I wanted..isn't it? I know it's for the best that Atem and I remain as we are now and always have been; best friends and nothing more. He's the King of Egypt. He's basically a God in terms of royalty and power! I could never be anything more than a herem or a summer affair…the romance could never be real. I'm nothing special, but then again…that look that was in his eyes today; that shine that made me feel my love was returned. Of course, it could be a different type of love. "Yes, Pharaoh." I lie through my teeth. "This sort of thing makes a girl act very strange." And I wink before laughing. "Whatdya' think? I was in love with you or something?"

But maybe, that wasn't the response he was hoping for. I watch as his eyes dull and his hand twitches slightly. I go to touch him and he pulls away. "No, Mana. I was just concerned that is all. I care for you very much and want what's best for you."

Now perhaps this is all in my imagination, but I think I just hurt him. How did I manage to say the wrong thing yet again? He rises from the bed and I move so that he can walk past me. "I still want you to lie down and rest for the remainder of the day. I'll clean this up when I return." And he exits, leaving me alone in the suddenly cold room.