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My lips curled down and I smoothed the pad of my thumb over the little v formed there. “Are you in pain?”
“Yes. I always get debilitating cramps, not to mention the constant headache and every other symptom possible.” I growled and she giggled lightly. “Ow,” she winced, “don’t make me laugh.”
Should I go get some Heechus? Maybe they can help? No, that won’t work, they can’t heal a naturally occurring bodily function.
Miko’s breathing evened out as she fell back asleep. Gently, I rolled her onto her side and rubbed the small of her back, hoping it would ease some of the pain. I’d do it all night if it meant she got a full night’s rest.
CHAPTER 24
The Devil’s Waterfall
MIKO
Tap. Tap. Tap.
My capped fountain pen bounced against the page as I twiddled it between my fingers and stared at page after page of absurd messages Monstera and I wrote each other in my journal this past weekend. She knows that sometimes my tangled emotions get the best of me when I’m overwhelmed, which causes me not to be able to vocalize my thoughts and feelings without stumbling over my words. So, she suggested we communicate via little notes as if my journal was a messaging thread.
At first, I didn’t want to waste precious deckled edge paper on what felt like frivolity, nevertheless, she convinced me to try it. Now, I’m grateful I can look back on our written chat whenever I’d like.
SugarSprout: Don’t let The Devil’s Waterfall sway your thoughts, Pumpkin. You’ve already got enough problems, bleeding from your bits and all.
SugarSprout: TDW, for short. Everything you’re feeling is valid. What are your instincts telling you?
BabyCakes: I love the shit out of you, but where do you come up with this stuff? The Devil’s Waterfall? Really?
SugarSprout: You have to admit, it’s better than Aunt Flow or, god forbid, menstrual cycle. *shudders*
SugarSprout: Those are way too dull for the likes of us.
SugarSprout: Common. Admit it.
BabyCakes: I bow to the new Queen of Prose.
SugarSprout: Wow. The sarcasm in that sentence is so damn thick I can taste it. Kindna reminds me of blueberries.
SugarSprout: Well done, you. At-hem. I asked you a question. What are your instincts telling you?
I didn't realize how badly I needed a few days to do absolutely nothing except lounge about and to talk to my fated bestie about the clusterfuck that is now my life—Even with keeping some of the more supernatural aspects to myself. Monstera essentially forced me to relax. It's not something that I allow myself to do often, or rather, something my brain allowed me to. I felt more rested than I had in weeks thanks to her.
Of course, I still had to work but the time spent in the library flew by with Mo to entertain me.
I miss her already.
Still, my body desperately needed rest even before the Devil’s Waterfall arrived. Leave it to Monstera to create the most accurate name for periods I’d ever heard. While my cycles were always brutally painful and heavy, they usually only lasted three to four days.
A vision of Bane’s too wide grin creeped into my thoughts. I scoffed. Who am I kidding? He's never left. Still, just because I didn't see him didn’t mean he wasn't there. A laugh slipped out of me, the memory of how utterly clueless Bane was about the whole thing drifted to the forefront of my mind. I lightly pressed my fingertips to my lips, remembering the way he gently rubbed my back and how softly he kissed me.
It’s as if he was willing to do or get anything I asked for just to make me feel better.
My belly swooped and heat rose to my cheeks. Clueless or not, he was incredibly sweet. I’ve never had someone I was romantically involved with treat me with such care and devotion as he did.
Yet, it was now Monday evening, and I hadn’t seen him since Friday. He hadn’t left any notes or surprise coffees either. I might've grumbled a bit about having to make my own coffee this morning. I wasn’t too proud to admit that I loved how he spoiled me, but that made his extended absence all the more jarring.
Bane hadn’t even shown up to teach class today or popped in while I worked. I scoffed, not that it made a difference whether the professor or Bane were present, as both of them only assigned chapters to read solo. This entire course has been a fucking joke. I honestly don't care as long as I get my course credits.
Nerves fluttered through my body, brushing past organs on their way to my throat. Where was he? I didn't know what to think about the whole thing. It was too much for a Monday.
Adjusting the bridge of my glasses, I picked up the latest rubber duckie Mo gifted me. Monstera still insisted it reminded her of me and claimed that its grumpy face matched mine exactly as if duck bills could form an expression.
