I went to the locker room and must have changed, but I didn’t really remember doing it. There I was on the track, and I started to run. Faster, faster, faster. I pounded around the track, arms pumping, breath heaving in oxygen deprived gasps. All I focused on was the thumping sound of my feet on the synthetic surface and the harsh pants of my breathing.
“Emily!”
Breathe, breathe, breathe.
“Emily, swim practice is almost over!”
I looked up, startled, and saw that Annie was running next to me.
“Are you ok?” she asked, her face scrunched with concern.
I nodded, then put my hand over my mouth and ran to the bathroom to throw up.
When I came out of the stall, Annie was waiting for me. She handed me a wet paper towel, and I wiped my face with it and rinsed my mouth out from the sink.
“Thank you,” I choked out.
“Are you ok?” she asked again. I nodded.
“Come on, let’s get the kids.”
We slowly walked down the hallway to the pool.
“I threw up a lot when I was pregnant with Macdara,” Annie commented.
“I’m not pregnant,” I sighed wearily.
“Oh, that’s good!”
I turned to her. “I’m not some kind of tramp, Annie. I know what you think of me, but you’re wrong.”
She shook her head. “What do you mean? I don’t think that about you!”
“You think I’m a horrible person because I work in a bar. You think my sister is trying to seduce your brother or something. Your dad looks at me like I’m pond algae.”
Annie was shaking her head vigorously now. “I don’t think any of those things. I told you that Luke explained everything you do to take care of your family. I think it’s wonderful!”
The double doors opened and the swimmers started pouring out.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Annie asked me.
“Great,” I answered.
“Listen, I saw you hadn’t gotten tickets to the team dinner at my house this Sunday, so I got you some. My treat, ok?” she looked at me, eyes wide.
“Thank you,” I managed.
Charlie looked at me. “Em, are you sick?”
“I don’t feel so good, pal. Maybe I need to go home and lie down.”
So we did. After I took a hot shower (that didn’t even cheer me up), Charlie and I lay on his bed for a while and cuddled. Apparently we both needed it.
Cassie was in another strange mood that night at dinner. She came down and stayed at the table while Charlie finished his homework.
“Can you get me a new eyeliner?” she asked nonchalantly.
I eyed her as I picked up her plate. “You barely touched this.” We couldn’t afford to waste food, and she needed to eat.
