Sleep Disorders

Chapter 10

It was amazing! There were all kinds of rides, games and stalls selling everything from cotton candy to "Presley's Carnival" t-shirts. Excited kids ran up and down followed by laughing parents. Being at the carnival made me feel like a kid again.

"Come on. Let's go for a ride," Nathan said with a dashing smile.

All I could do was nod dumbly and follow him.

---

Hours later and Nathan and I were walking down Clover Street once again.

"Thank you so much Nathan. Today has been truly amazing," I said giving him a small peck on the cheek.

Nathan blushed. "N-no problem. I just wanted you to have good birthday."

A good birthday? Heck I had a great birthday! We went on all the rides and we bought hotdogs for lunch. But to be honest it was the "spending time with Nathan" part that I enjoyed the most. He was so funny! And caring too. It didn't matter where we went as long he was there. Okay that sounded way too cheesy.

"Let's go to our special place," he said with a smile. At first I didn't know what he was talking about but then I remembered that place hidden in the woods.

When we arrived the first thing I noticed was that the trees were mostly bare. Winter was coming. I shivered as a breeze blew, sending ripples across the river. I pulled down the sleeves of my jersey covering my cold hands. I crossed my arms covering my chest. It was getting seriously chilly now.

"I'm sorry," Nathan said.

"Why are you apologizing?"

"I shouldn't have brought you here. You're obviously getting cold. I would have given you my jacket but unfortunately I didn't bring one with. Sorry."

"No, it's not your fault. I should've dressed warmer." I said with a yawn. Great, my medication's working off.

"I could use a coffee," I said with a tired laugh.

"Wanna go get one?"

"No let's just sit here." I sat at the edge of the river bank and Nathan sat beside me.

"Can I ask you something?" Nathan asked.

"Yeah?"

"How did you get your hypersomnia? Did you just randomly fall asleep one day and then start a pattern of random, uncontrolled naps? Because I don't think that's possible."

I pursed my lips. I didn't like talking about what happened. I didn't even talk to my parents about it anymore. "There was an.. accident," I said softly. Nathan was quiet, obviously waiting for me to continue. So I took a deep breath and continued. "My sister and I-"

"Wait, you have a sister?" Nathan interrupted surprised.

"I had a sister. Her name was Bella," I said my voice barely audible.

Nathan faced registered shock, confusion and then realisation.

"Oh Grace, I'm so sorry."

I felt a lump in my throat and I took a deep breath. I didn't want to break down infront of Nathan. "We were very close, Bella and I. She was three years older than me. The accident happened one frosty winter afternoon. Bella had just finished writing her final school paper and we decided to go out to celebrate. A Thousand Years by Christina Perri was playing on the radio and we were belting out the words at the top of our voices..."

*Flashback*

"I have died everyday waiting for you. Darling don't be afraid I have loved you for a thousand years, and I'll love you for a thousand more!" Bella and I were singing at the top of our lungs.

"Hey Bella. I don't wanna go McDonalds. We go to McDonald's all the time," I whined, "Why don't we go to that fancy new Italian place. What's it called?"

"Italiano Cuisine?" Bella asked.

"Yes! I heard they make delicious food. I really want to try out their pasta, all my friends say it's the best!"

"Okay, then let's go!" Bella said with a laugh. She was always willing to anything for me.

Bella turned left and we continued singing with Christina Perri. As we crossed an intersection we heard a loud hooting sound *beep beep beeeeeep*. It was a truck speeding down from our right. I gasped! We were going to crash!

*CRASH!*

Our car was thrown into the air and I heard Bella scream. I could barely make out what was happening as we catapulted into the nearby canal. My vision was blurry. The last thing I remember was a loud SPLASH as we hit the canal's water and then I blacked out.

*End of flashback*

My eyes were streaming with tears as I reencountered the accident to Nathan. I hated talking about it because talking about it meant remembering it. The memories were still vivid in my mind, as if it had happened only yesterday instead of two years ago. It was all my fault that Bella died. I was the one who suggested we go celebrate and I was the one who suggested we should go to that stupid Italian restuarant instead of McDonalds. I should've died, not Bella.

"I was unconscious for a week. They thought I wasn't going to make it... like Bella. She died on impact during the accident," I choked out. "I hit my head really hard damaging the part of brain that sends out sleep signals to my body. And that's when I developed Hypersomnia." I was full on crying now. Nathan put his arms around me and I cried into his chest. Great, now I was making a fool of myself in front of Nathan, I thought to myself.

"I'm sorry," I sniffed. I sat up and I wiped my eyes with the sleeve of my jersey.

"Here you go," Nathan said handing me a tissue. I gratefully accepted the tissue, wiped my eyes and blew my nose.

"I'm sorry you have to see me like this," I whispered.

"It's okay. You need to let it out." He hugged me again and I lost myself in his embrace. He smelt nice, like mint and lavender. I inhaled deeply. They say that lavender has calming properties and I sure was feeling calm in Nathan's arms, sniffing his minty-lavender scent.

"I'm sorry for ruining your birthday. I shouldn't have asked what happened," he whispered into my hair.

"It's okay," I said sitting up, "You were right. I needed to let that out."

I yawned again. "Sorry, I'm just really tired. All that crying... well I'm exhausted!"

"Come here," Nathan said. He lay down and pulled me towards him. "Close your eyes," he said and I obeyed.

I fell asleep to the sound of Nathan softly humming "Happy Birthday to you".

---

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~ Aqeelah (@cosmic-thoughts)