Soulmate

Thirty Three: Ophelia

December 28, 2019
San Francisco, California

"Hello?" I call shakily into my phone's receiver, silencing the blaring ringtone. 

"Is she doing any better?" Rose's worried voice cuts into my ear and I sigh in response. 

My grandmother came down with a sudden sickness the day after Christmas. I hadn't been too concerned at first, it was just a slight cough and some congestion, but over the past two days, she's taken an alarming turn. 

"I don't know," I confess helplessly. "She just seems to be getting worse by the hour. She hasn't eaten all day and I can't even get her to to sit up because she can hardly get any air in." I start to sniffle and tears threaten to fall as I think of my poor grandma nearly suffocating every time she tries to move. "I don't know what to do, Rose," I cry into the phone. "I'm afraid she might die. I don't know what I'll so if she dies." 

"Ophelia, babe, calm down," Rose says in the most delicate voice. It keeps me from full on sobbing, but it doesn't stop the tears that have already started to fall. "She's not gonna die, okay? What you need to do is get her to the hospital. If you're that worried, she needs medical attention. They'll know what to do." 

I sniffle again and wipe my cheeks like a child. "I can't afford a hospital bill. All inheritance money from my dad goes to college tuition. I can't take her there." 

"Just get her to the hospital, we'll worry about bills later, okay? Wait five minutes, we're on our way." 

I nod even though she can't see me. "Please hurry." 

She's off the phone before I can say anything more. 

—

"Ara?" I ask as I open the door to my three friends and one little baby. "You're here too?" 

"I'm watching Vi," Ara replies. "Now get upstairs and get that sweet old lady down here so we can get her some help." 

I practically fly up the stairs at that, Rose and David not far behind me. Her bedroom door is open and we face her sleeping form on her bed. The three of us lift her carefully, delicately, and David graciously carries her frail body down the stairs and to the car as quickly as possible. I say a quick prayer for her—that she'll be okay and that she won't kill me for letting people see her in her nightgown. She's rather die than know everyone saw her sleeping clothes. 

David sets her carefully in the backseat of my car. He shoves Rose into the front seat and I leap into the back with my grandma to hold her head so it doesn't loll too much and hurt her neck. 

"Don't worry Nanna," I whisper to her, though she hasn't woken up even in all the commotion. I start to cry again as quietly as I can in the silent car. "I'll get you help. Just please hold on, I can't lose you yet." 

—

"She'll be okay." 

The words from David's beautiful mouth make me cry again, this time out of relief. It's been nearly an hour since we arrived and I was so hysterical Rose had to hold me down in the waiting room while he listened to the doctor. 

"She's on an IV and oxygen," he informs us. "She was really tired and dehydrated. They'll keep her overnight and monitor her until she's better, but she's going to be okay." 

My body relaxes completely against Rose and I lean my head onto her shoulder. She squeezes me tightly, her curly strawberry hair tickling my neck and forehead. It's all frizzy from the stress of the situation, I'm sure the leftover purple color in mine has fallen out from all my worrying. I rest easy for just a moment as David collapses in the chair next to his wife. 

"You two should head home then," I say. "It's really late and I'm sure Vi's not sleeping well in my house." 

Rose scoffs at that. "Are you stupid? We're staying here as long as we have to." 

"If anything, I'll stay tonight so you guys can get some rest," David says. "You've been taking care of her for the past two days, the last thing you need is to be up all night with all these doctors and nurses." 

I open my mouth to protest but David smiles genuinely at me, making me stop before I begin. 

"Go on home," he insists. "Tomorrow's Sunday anyway. Get some rest, I'll stay here in case they have any more info for us. The nurses will be checking in on her and making sure she's okay. Just relax tonight. I'll call if anything happens." 

I'm still hesitant on leaving, but Rose is already standing and tugging me up as well. 

"Come on," she says. "It'll be okay, my husband's a responsible guy." 

"I believe you," I mumble. 

"It's always you doing everything, Opie," David says, giving me a small hug. "We'll take care of things for once. You just get some rest." 

He hugs me again when I finally give in before he pulls his wife into a hug as well. They share a few sweet, long kisses as a goodnight and I have to turn my head away. I hate when I get jealous over their marriage. It feels so immature of me even though it feels justified. 

"Let's go, Ophelia," Rose says, taking my hand. 

Once home, Rose, Ara and I all climb into my bed and curl up together under the blankets. Violet sleeps soundly in a Pack n Play next to Rose, but the three of us stare up at my ceiling silently. 

"We haven't all three shared a bed since junior year of high school," Rose whispers. 

"I know," Ara responds. "Because you stopped sleeping over and would sneak over to David's instead," she teases. 

Rose snorts but doesn't deny it. I smile at the memories. 

"Telling your parents you were staying here with us," I join in. "I'll never forget the time they called us and I told them we had no clue where you were...we all got beat that day." 

"Hey, if you guys had a man like that in bed, you would lie to your parents too." She sighs, but at  much different memories than I've been thinking of. 

I gag and Ara groans next to me. 

"Gross..." she mumbles. 

"I'm just saying," Rose defends. She lifts her head to look over me at Ara and smirks. "I'm sure Ronan's not too different." 

Ara scoffs at that. "Never hold high expectations for people you haven't slept with. You'll only be disappointed." 

"Are you telling this to me or yourself?" Rose jabs. 

"Ara, haven't you heard the saying 'once you go black, you never go back?'" I ask her with a click of my tongue. "I'm pretty sure that's a thing for a reason. I can already tell you he's a pretty fabulous kisser." 

"Okay, I'm going to bed," Ara mutters and rolls on her side away from us. 

Rose laughs and I can't help but join, rolling over to hug Ara and cuddle up against her. 

"Get off me, you leech," she grunts, shoving me away playfully. 

"Love me, Ara!" I squeal. 

Baby Violet stirs in her Pack n Play and we all freeze in place, trying out best not to wake the sleeping beauty. 

"Okay, now it's time for real bed," Rose whispers. "She's a very light sleeper these days." 

"I bet that's exhausting," Ara whispers in reply. 

Rose just sighs. "Part of the process. Love you guys." 

I smile as Ara coos an 'I love you' in return. 

"I love you guys," I say genuinely. "Thank you for always being with me. I don't know what I'd do without you." 

Rose snuggles up against me and Ara scoots her butt to be a little closer. She's never been much of a cuddler. 

So I cuddle with Rose instead, as I always have. We hold each other in our arms and hug ourselves to sleep. I've always slept best with my two best friends. 

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