Fix Me

It was strange, but my eyes felt gritty. I don’t know why I felt like I shouldn’t be able to feel pain in my eyes. They didn’t work so why could they cause me discomfort? I closed my eyes, hoping like hell I could go back to sleep. My brain felt like it was on a hamster wheel. I couldn’t get off. It just kept going and going and going.

“Dammit,” I groaned. I wanted to sleep. Maybe some chamomile tea would help. I got up and very slowly meandered into the kitchen.

I heard movement and froze. “Hello?” I called out.

“Hey, you’re up—” Luke stopped talked. “Bree, are you okay?”

I reached up to smooth my hair down. I wasn’t expecting him to be in the kitchen so damn early. “What are you doing here?”

“I dropped my mom off at the airport early and figured I would come over and get the coffee going.”

“You took your mom to the airport? Already?”

“Yes. It was a quick visit.”

Relief washed over me. “Oh.”

He chuckled. “You can say it.”

“Say what?” I asked in a voice much higher than normal.

“She was pretty obnoxious. I’m sorry you had to deal with her.”

“She was fine,” I said, forcing a smile.

“No, she wasn’t, but thank you for being nice.”

I sighed. “You’re welcome.”

“Do you want some coffee?” he asked.

I bit my lower lip. “Actually, I was just coming in on the hunt for some chamomile tea.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I didn’t sleep well, and I was hoping to try and sleep a couple hours.”

I heard, more like felt him come towards me. His hand touched my face. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Yes, I just couldn’t sleep. It isn’t that abnormal for me. I’ve dealt with insomnia most of my life.”

“Do you take anything for it?” he asked, and I could hear the concern in his voice.

I blew out a breath. “I have before but I don’t think I’m there yet. I don’t like taking the meds. I have horrible nightmares and feel like shit in general.”

“Okay, let’s start with tea. Is there anything else I can do to help you sleep?”

He was such a sensitive man. “No, I’ll be okay.”

“Alright, let me get your tea going.”

He stepped away from me. I immediately felt the void. I listened to him filling the pot. “How come your mom went home so soon?”

He didn’t immediately answer. “My mom and I have a strained relationship. Her visit was a surprise and not a welcome one. I know that sounds bad, but things are kind of, I don’t know, weird. Unconventional. Not traditional.”

I nodded. “I understand.”

“Anyway, I don’t think we’ll have to worry about those surprise visits anymore.”