TRAPPED

50

Celine

When I wake up, I feel the worst I've ever felt. My head begins pounding, and I hold onto it as my eyes water. A few tears fall down my face and I groan into my pillow.

I hear the door open. I turn around to see my dad standing in the doorway. He smiles at me, but it begins to fade after a moment. He sits beside me on the bed. "What's wrong?"

"I don't feel right." I say.

"How?" He asks.

"I'm gonna be sick." I say shakily.

He lifts me up and rushes me to the bathroom. I'm barely by the toilet before I throw up.

My dad holds my hair back for me, whispering soothing things I can barely hear over the sound of me throwing up again. I sob, wrapping my arms around myself and sitting back.

My dad wipes around my mouth for me, and I lean back on him. He holds me tightly, like he's afraid I'll slip away.

"It's okay." He whispers. I turn around, hiding my head in the crook of his neck. He rubs my back as I sob quietly, shaking my head, because it isn't okay. It'll never be okay. "Let's get you back into bed."

     He stands, lifting me up with him. I lean my head on his shoulder and yawn, then sob again.

     "Come on." He whispers gently, taking me out of the bathroom and into the hall. He stops, and I look to see why.

     "Merry Christmas!" Amelie exclaims.

     "Merry Christmas, honey." My dad smiles. I look away.

     "What's wrong with Celine?" She asks.

     My eyes water.

     "She's not feeling too well." He tells her.

     "But.. it's Christmas." She says sadly. "We need to open presents."

     I frown. "I wanna go to sleep, daddy."

     "Okay." He says to me. He takes me to my room, laying me back under the covers. He leans down and kisses my cheek.

     "I.. I forgot it was Christmas." I whisper.

     "That's okay." He assures me.

     "I made you something." I say, my eyes closing of their own volition. I peel them back open and look up at him.

     "You did?"

     I nod. "It's.. it's.. I forgot.."

     "It's alright," he runs a hand through my hair and kisses my cheek. "Get some more sleep, sweetheart."

     He starts rubbing my back, and it takes me no time at all to fall asleep again.

     When I wake up, it's to the sound of my door opening. I open my eyes and look up at Léo, who smiles at me as he carries a tray of food into my room.