Free Redeeming by Gabrielle Demonico

dragged the plate over in front of her and inhaled. Normally, the smell of rich tomato, perfectly flavored meat, and pungent spice drove her taste buds wild. But for some strange reason, that was not at all the way she felt after that deep inhale. In fact, if anything, the exact opposite was true. She pushed the plate away and leaned back in her chair.
    “Ugh,” she groaned.
    Tricia, already on her second fork full, wrinkled her brow at Daniella. “What’s the matter?”
    Daniella crossed her hands at her stomach. “I don’t know. I don’t feel so good.”
    Marilyn returned from the kitchen with napkins in hand. “What’s going on?”
    “My stomach…” Daniella moaned. “It hurts. It’s been bothering me for a few days.”
    “Are you getting sick?” Tricia asked.
    “Maybe. It’s been going around at work. I think all the stress and lack of sleep is finally catching up to me.”
    Marilyn rounded the table. She stood next to Daniella, put her right arm around her shoulder, and felt her forehead with her left.
    “Hmm, well…” she began. “You don’t feel warm. Maybe you are a bit rundown. Do you want to lay down? I can bring your dinner over to you.”
    “No, I…” Daniella started to reply. But as she did, a wave of nausea hit her. She wobbled to her feet. “Oh man, I think I’m gonna be sick.”
    In a rush, she hurried down the hallway to the guest bathroom and closed the door behind her. The nausea passed for a moment but just to be on the safe side, she decided to wait and see if it would return. She stood with her hands on the bathroom sink and looked at herself in the mirror. She noticed her complexion was a bit pale. Perhaps the bug going around work caught up to her at last.
    “Daniella?” Tricia’s voice said from the hallway. “You okay? You need anything?”
    “No… I’m fine.” She replied. “I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
    “Okay, well, if you need something let me know…”
    “I will.”
    A few seconds later she heard Tricia ’s footsteps head back down the hallway and into the kitchen. Daniella grabbed a washcloth, moistened it with some cold water, and then rubbed it on her forehead and neck. For a moment it helped until the nausea returned. A rush of sickness hit her and there was no doubt it was for real this time. She fell to her knees and threw up for several seconds.
    Once it was over, she collapsed against the side of the bathtub. Eventually, she got to her feet and tried to steady herself. She had no idea if she was sick or if her nerves got the best of her after all bu t whatever it was, she hoped that was the end of it. Moments later, she opened the door and made her way back to the kitchen.
    “Any better sweetie?” Her mom asked.
    “Not really,” she said. “I’m just so tired all of a sudden.”
    “Do you want to lie down?”
    “No,” she said. “I think I am going to go.”
    “You don’t want to try and eat something?”
    “Ugh, no. I’m not hungry at all.”
    “Well, I don’t think you should drive in that condition.”
    “Yeah,” Tricia interrupted. “I’ll take you home.”
    “No,” Daniella protested. “I’m fine. I can drive myself.” With that, she did a half turn towards one of the dining room chairs and reached for her purse. Without warning, she felt lightheaded and instead of grabbing her bag, she missed the chair entirely and fell to the floor.
    “Daniella!” H er mother exclaimed. Tricia helped her to her feet.
    “That’s it,” Tricia said. “I’m taking you home and that’s all there is to it.”
    Whatever it was that made her feel this way, Daniella knew better than to fight about it. The last thing she needed to do was get in a car accident because of sheer stubbornness.
    “Okay,” she said. “Okay…”
    Marilyn packed up the rest of Tricia’s meal and handed it to her.
    “Do you want me to pack some for you as well?” She asked Daniella.
    “Yeah,” she replied. “I’ll need something to eat later