Read Online Goddesses Don't Get Sick by Victoria Bauld - Free Book Online

He sighed softly and shook his head again. “I told you something like this would happen if you weren’t careful.”
    “Didn’t want to stand you up,” Angela responded after a pause. Tsking gently, Tuyen reached forward and placed his wrist on her forehead to feel her temperature. A smile crept onto his face as he watched Angela’s eyes close with relief at the cool touch, before it disappeared quickly at the heat he felt.
    “Geez girl, you’re burning up,” Tuyen murmured softly with concern. “We need to get you looked at.”
    “‘m fine,” Angela shook her head and got up. She stood for a moment, swaying slightly, before she gave up and sat back down on the bed. “Kinda,” she added weakly.
    Moving about her room, Tuyen dug around in Angela’s closet until he found a warm jacket for her to wear, his eyes catching some of the gifts he had given her and bringing another smile to his face. Returning to Angela’s side, Tuyen helped her put the jacket on before he stood up and looked her over again. It was clear that Angela was in no state to walk to the clinic, even though Tuyen knew there was one close by. Wondering how he was going to get her to the doctor in her current state, Tuyen’s eye caught the set of keys sitting on Angela’s beside table.
    “You have a car, right?” He asked. Angela nodded, gesturing vaguely in the direction of her window where her car could be seen.
    Picking up the keys, Tuyen put them in his pocket and returned to the bed. With an almost effortless movement, he placed his arms around Angela’s back and beneath her legs, and gently lifted her up. Clutching at his neck, she looked at him in dazed surprise.
    “What’re you doin’?” She asked, a slightly green tinge colouring her face at the sudden change of her position in gravity.
    “What I am doing,” Tuyen patiently said as he began to carry her out of her room. “Is taking you to the doctor, Goddess.”
    “Not a goddess,” Angela sighed and rested her head on Tuyen’s shoulder. “Goddesses don’t get sick.”
    “They do in human form,” Tuyen said softly as he carried her out of the house.
    A few hours later, Angela was back in her room and tucked into bed. A small pharmaceutical sat on the dresser next to her, and she had a guilty look on her still-pale face.
    “Sorry,” she mumbled to Tuyen as he returned from the kitchen with a bowl and a damp face cloth, his shirt off and slung over his shoulder. He smiled at Angela as he placed the bowl within reach and sat on the bed next to her.
    “It’s fine,” he reassured her as he folded the cloth and placed it on her forehead. “It’ll wash out easily. Just try and reach the bowl next time, okay?”
    Angela smiled weakly. “You don’t have to stay you know.”
    “I know I don’t,” Tuyen said gently and rested his hand against her cheek. “But if I don’t make sure you eat and take your medication, who will?”
    “I can,” Angela’s response brought a chuckle from her friend.
    “You can, but you won’t. If I know you, you’ll be up again before you’re better, and only make things worse for yourself.” He looked at her seriously for a moment. “Honestly, Ange, you really need to take a break and look after yourself. I keep telling you; since I’ve met you, you’ve been taking on more and more work for yourself. You work whenever you’re not studying, and the only time you’re not doing either is when you’re between semesters and your work won’t give you more hours. Why don’t you slow down once in a while?”
    Resting against her pillow, Angela sighed and closed her eyes. “I need the work so I can afford to study without getting too much in debt. And I study because if I want to keep my scholarship, and get a good job, I need the grades to go with the degree.” Opening her eyes, she looked wearily at Tuyen. “If I can just get a decent, well paid job, it’ll all be worth it. I know my grades can’t guarantee it, but…It’s