“I’m not-” My voice rises with a sudden sweep of anger, and I immediately stop to take a deep breath. Calmly, I continue, “I’m not avoiding this, Presley. I’m tired and I’ve got a headache. Please come to bed with me, and I’ll tell you in the morning. Promise.”
She stares at me for a moment before nodding. Silently, we change and get ready for bed. Smarty is last to get into bed. Before she even has the chance, I tug her to me. I want to feel her against me tonight and find comfort from her touch. Maybe tonight I
will get some decent sleep.
“I love you,” Presley whispers with a kiss over my heart.
“I love you too. So much.” I hold her tightly with my words.
It doesn’t take long for us to fall asleep, but it also doesn’t take long before I wake right back up. I’m laying on my back, staring at the ceiling, and Presley is cuddled up to me with her head on my chest. After two hours have passed, I’m still awake and feeling antsy like I need to move or pace. Slowly, I get out of bed without waking Smarty. The urge to pace back and forth is almost too hard to resist.
Instead, I take a seat on the couch with my elbows on my knees and rest my head in my hands. With all my concentration, I inhale long, slow, deep breaths hoping that will relax me. Every muscle in my body feels like it’s rung tight with so much pressure that it might burst from the force. I just need to relax, so I can go back to bed and get some sleep.
Time passes, but I don’t know how much. I’m still sitting in the exact same position, still taking deep breaths, and still feeling so tense.
“Levi?” My head turns at the sound of Presley’s voice. She’s standing at the threshold to her room. “What are you doing? Is everything okay?” She asks as she walks towards me.
I lean back and Smarty sits sideways in my lap, placing her arm around my shoulders. “Yeah, everything’s fine. Just can’t sleep, so I was trying to relax.”
“You looked like you were doing a terrible job.” She smiles slightly.
I chuckle. “I was. What are you doing up?” I run my hand up and down her back. She usually sleeps soundly all through the night.
She shrugs. “You weren’t in bed. Are you just not tired?”
“No, I am somewhat. I’m feeling antsy,” I answer honestly.
“Want me to rub your back?”
When I nod, she gets up and leads me back to the bedroom. Presley rubs and kneads the muscles in my back, and it starts to soothe me. Quietly, I voice one of my fears.
“How long do you think this will last? The trouble sleeping, the anger, the headaches. What if it never goes away?”
Presley is full of determination as she says, “It will. You just have to follow the doctor’s orders.”
Right. I have to rest and keep my stress levels low. Soon, with Presley’s magic hands, I’m able to fall asleep.
~
What better way to rest and not get stressed than to lay on the couch and watch cartoons all day? Presley had an early class this morning, so she was already gone when I woke up. I actually slept in. So today, I’m stretched out on Presley’s couch, my feet hanging off at the other end with one arm behind my head.
These cartoons sure are different than when I was younger, but one thing that hasn’t changed is Spongebob. I hate to say it, but this is probably the most relaxed I’ve been since my injury and I haven’t had a headache at all today. If this keeps up, I’ll be back in no time. It’s my first good day, giving me hopes that it’ll last.
My phone rings in the afternoon and it’s my father.
“Hey, Pops,” I answer.
“Levi, how are you feeling?”
“Really good, actually.” It feels awesome to say that.
“That’s great, son. I was calling to see if you would like to come up and have supper with me tonight?” He asks.
“Sure. I’m actually staying with Presley for a few days, so I’m already nearby.”
Pops chuckles. “Thanks for letting me know. Bring Presley too. I’d love to see her as well. Be here between six and seven.”
“Okay. We’ll be there.”