Sharna’s headache continued to increase the closer she got to Myra and Anna’s house. By the time she arrived, she could barely stand to keep her eyes open, the day’s warm, gentle light now felt like it was piercing a hole in her skull.
As she arrived home, Marjorie was in the front garden picking herbs. She smiled when she saw her and called over. “Sharna, how did you go this morning..?” Her smile froze as she took in Sharna’s slumped posture and sunken eyes. Marjorie rushed over, immediately grabbing Sharna’s arm for support. Realising she was home, a wave of relief washed over Sharna as she finally let the pain and exhaustion overtake her. She slumped to the ground and could feel nothing more.
***
When she came to, Sharna groggily felt warm sunlight on her face and realised she was lying in her bed, her headache gone. She had no memory of how she had arrived there and blushed and buried her head as she realised the trouble she must have caused Marjorie and the others.
“You’re awake!” A voice called beside her.
Sharna lifted her head and blinked as she took in Gogo beside her. She had pulled an oversized armchair into their room and was sitting curled up with a blanket over her lap and a pile of design books on the floor beside her.
“What..” Sharna cleared her throat, which was croaky from sleep “what time is it?”
“It’s 3:30.” Gogo replied cheerily.
Sharna put one arm over her face, “I must have been asleep for a few hours, I’m sorry for the trouble.”
“It’s actually 3:30 on Friday..” Gogo explained, “the next day..”
Sharna sat upright, all grogginess suddenly washed away, “I’ve been asleep for more than a day?!” She exclaimed, her voice rising.
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Gogo leaned forward, her blanket falling to the floor, and gently pushed Sharna back down onto the bed. Despite the warmth she was dressed in an oversized cardigan, the sleeves falling to cover her hands. “You need to take it slowly,” she explained gently. Sharna was surprised at the tenderness in her voice.
“But I’ve been nothing but trouble for you all since I arrived,” Sharna replied, her bottom lip trembling.
“You haven’t,” Gogo returned to her chair, pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her cardigan around herself. She looked ridiculously young as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ears.
“Yes I have,” Sharna returned, rolling towards the wall.
Gogo leaned forward again, grabbing Sharna’s shoulder to roll her back towards her, “No,” she said firmly, “you haven’t.”
Sharna looked at her dubiously, and as she watched Gogo’s expression, Gogo ducked her head and buried her face in her knees, then continued in a muffled voice, “I’m sorry.”
Sharna rolled right over so she was facing Gogo, “what on earth would you have to be sorry about?” She asked in bewilderment.
“I haven’t been a very good best friend, or a good friend at all.” Gogo replied, her voice still muffled.
“What? What are you talking about?” Sharna was even more confused.
Gogo raised her head, her face now red and stained with tears, her expression angry.
“I haven’t been a good best friend!” She repeated uncomfortably, “you have had so much to deal with and I have just been jealous and badgering you. I was so excited to meet you and then you were so nice and now Gabby says that you’re going to want a different roommate because I’m too much..” Gogo’s face crumpled and her voice trailed off as she buried her face again.
Sharna lay silently for a moment, processing what Gogo had said, and her face broke into a smile. She pushed back her blankets as she sat up, reaching out both hands to take hold of Gogo’s head. Gogo sniffed, wiping her nose on her sleeve as she lifted her head to look tearily up at Sharna. “.. and you’re not supposed to get out of bed yet.”
Sharna chuckled, the sound surprising both of them. “You are the only best friend I want.” Sharna told her, “and I didn’t even know you were jealous or badgering.”
“I was.” Gogo replied firmly. “Gabby told me so too.”
Sharna’s brow creased, “look, I don’t know what’s going on with Gabby right now, but she doesn’t get to decide how I feel about things.”
“Are you sure you don’t want a different roommate?” Gogo asked.
“I don’t, but are you sure you wouldn't like an easier roommate?” Sharna returned, raising her hands questioningly. “It would probably be a lot simpler to live with someone else.”
“No,” Gogo replied definitively, “only you.” They smiled at each other, then Gogo shot to her feet in a panic, “Oh no! I promised I would grab Myra or Anna when you woke up!”
Sharna reached out to grab Gogo’s arm but she was already gone, and Sharna crawled back into her bed, feeling comforted by the warm blankets.