“Okay dad, thanks.” The instant he closed my bedroom door, Edward was at my side again. I heard Charlie trudge down the stairs and then front door open and slam closed behind him.

“I’ll be right back. I’m going put some hot tea and soup on for you.” Before I could protest, Edward lightly kissed my nose and was out of sight. I pulled the comforter up to my chin, suddenly chilled, and I took the rubber band that was holding my hair up out and set it down on my nightstand. I began to drift off to sleep, and then woke myself up with a fit of coughing. Edward was back at my side.

“Are you okay, love?” I nodded my head in reply. He placed the back of his hand to my cheek.

“Your temperature has gone down a couple tenths of a point.”

“Ah, improvement,” I said, sarcastically. He chuckled.

“I’ll be right back. Your soup is almost finished.” After he left I shut my eyes and focused solely on clenching and unclenching one part of my body at a time to relax like Alice said to do during meditation when she attempted to teach me yoga. What a disaster that was… I still owe Esme for a vase that I ran into, unable to balance during the warrior two position. She insisted not to worry, but I felt terrible.

I pulled the covers over my face and concentrated. First I flexed my toes, then my calves, thighs, stomach… arms…

I heard the teapot whistle and my eyes fluttered open slightly from a light sleep with no dreams. I sat up on my arms and sniffled. My head was now pounding.

“How are you feeling?” Edward appeared next to me and did a quick examination.

“The same, but now I have a headache.” I fell back onto my pillow with my hands over my eyes and he left me for half a second. When he returned, he had a tray with chicken noodle soup, crackers that were set neatly around the plate under the bowl, hot tea and two small, white pills. He set the tray over my lap and I gratefully swallowed the pills.

“Thank you,” I said with a cough.