The drive home is much less peaceful than the one that had proceeded it.
With each mile I drive, the pounding in my skull seems to increase. I guess being awake for so long is starting to take its toll on me. I'm almost tempted to pull over and stop, but have a feeling this is going to get worse before it gets better.
Thankfully, I make it to my apartment without accident, and there are a few close parks due to it still being early afternoon.
I remember at the last minute to lock the car as I struggle to hold myself upright on the pavement. Thank God we have an elevator. Otherwise, I honestly may have just given up and passed out in the lobby.
It's the longest elevator ride of my life as I gripped the railing. The feeling of movement against gravity turns me green, and I wobble where I stand.
As soon as the door is open I start limping my way down the hall to our front door, wishing that I could teleport there - and then feeling more queasy at the idea.
Thankfully, the apartment is empty - I don't think I could cope with Beth questioning my haggard appearance or where I had been the night before.
I collapse onto the couch with an aching thud, wishing this pain and discomfort would end. It seems unthinkable that less than an hour ago, I was feeling fine and able to count and calculate numbers.
I must have passed out because the next think I am aware of is a loud and pleading, "Meow!" Coming from my bedroom.
Feeling slightly better than I had before, I'm able to stumble to my feet and move towards the source of the noise.
A very angry looking tabby cat glares at me from outside the window, and the pathetic sight of him makes me try to hurry my movements.
"Oh, Felix," I coo as my weak arms unhook the windowpane so he can enter my room, "I am so sorry I wasn't here last night to let you in!"
Felix gracefully walks into the room and plants his plump frame on my desk. The glare he shoots me over the paw he is grooming lets me know that I have not been forgiven yet. Well, I know how to fix that.
"Come on," I instruct before walking out of the room and rolling my tongue to make the high pitch tone cats use to request their kittens follow them.
He perks up immediately, recognising our code that it was safe to come out into the main area. He happily trots along after me as I make my way to the kitchen, and brushes himself between my leg when he sees me grab the tuna. Suck up.
I pull out a small dish and get his meal ready before placing it on the floor by the end of the counter. While he scoffs that down, I get another deeper dish and fill it with filtered water from the fridge for him, getting a glass for myself too while I'm at it.
I let him to enjoy his meal as I sit at our counter top and sip my water. I was feeling better than before, but still had a lingering headache and a few pains thoughout my body.
I start to contemplate what to make for myself, the sun has just begun to set and it wouldn't be long before my roommate returned. Maybe. It was hard to tell with her, and without my phone I had no way to check.
It made me nervous because she had not yet discovered our occasional visitor. I didn't know how she would react, considering it was against our lease agreement.
Shaking my head clear of the worrisome thoughts I decided to make myself a simple sandwich to help get my strength back.
One sandwich later, I'm feeling pleasantly satisfied and more able to ignore the dull pounding behind my eyes. Felix lazily struts past me and into my bedroom, not wanting to linger in the open space. I make quick work of washing our plates before carrying his water dish to my room.
He has already made himself comfortable on my sitting chair, so I stack a pillow near him to hide him from any possible visitors. I can hear him puring pleasantly as I gather my comfiest sleep clothes. I wnsure to close my bedroom door behind me before making my way to my first shower in over two days.
The soft pressure of the water feels so wonderful on my skin, and even after I was clean, it's hard to leave. Remembering that my roommate could be coming home at any moment is enough to get me moving, though.
After getting dressed and brushing my teeth, I get myself a fresh cup of water and make my way to bed.
As soon as I'm lying down, I hear a small "Mew?" Then a soft thud and gentle pressure on the surface of my blanket. I open it up so he can come snuggle in with me, and feel his purrs vibrate through my being as he curled up beside my chest.
Within minutes, we're both sound asleep.