I Was Never the Woman in Focus Chapter 03
I came down with a high fever on Wednesday night.
The thermometer read 107.6°F. My throat burned as if I’d swallowed shards of glass, and even swallowing saliva made me break out in cold sweats.
I fumbled for my phone and called Zion.
The line rang for a long time before he answered.
“Hello? What now?”
In the background, I heard a dog barking and Selena’s bright laughter.
“I have a fever.” I struggled to keep my voice steady. “We don’t have any medicine at home. Could you come back?”
There was a brief silence on the other end.
“If you’re sick, just order medicine delivery online.” His tone was sharp with annoyance. “Selena’s Samoyed has an upset stomach. We’re at the vet right now getting fluids for the dog.”
I stared up at the ceiling lamp, my vision spinning.
“My fever is over 104°F. I can barely stand up.”
“Kelly, stop playing the victim.” Zion let out a scoff.
“You’re perfectly fine most days, but suddenly you get sick the second I’m busy. How convenient.”
“The dog could get dehydrated—this is an emergency, for the dog’s sake.”
Selena’s voice piped up beside him. “Zion, if your girlfriend is really feeling terrible, you should head back first. I’ll be fine on my own.”
Classic manipulation. Acting selfless to draw him closer.
Just as I expected, Zion replied immediately.
“No way. You can’t handle a sick dog all alone.” He spoke back to the phone. “Just get medicine delivered. I’m hanging up now.”
The line went dead.
A dog with an owner who takes care of it having diarrhea is more important than me having a high fever.
I set the phone down and forced myself to stand, pouring a glass of warm water.
I didn’t order delivery. I pulled on my winter coat, hailed a taxi, and headed straight to the emergency room.
The hospital was eerily quiet at two in the morning, the cold seeping straight into my bones.
I registered, got blood drawn, and waited for test results all alone. I sat in the infusion room, watching cold IV fluid drip slowly into my veins.
Letitia called me on video chat while I rested my head against the chair.
“Why are you in a hospital?” She caught sight of the plain white wall behind me, her voice rising in shock.
“I have a fever, getting an IV drip.”
“Where’s Zion? What is he doing?”
“He’s at the vet with Selena’s dog.”
Letitia fell silent for ten full seconds. Then she vented her frustration bluntly.
“Kelly! How can you still put up with him treating you like this?”
“I’m not putting up with it anymore.” I watched the IV bag. “I’ve finished all the paperwork. My flight leaves next Tuesday.”
Letitia was stunned. “You’re really going to Norway?”
“Yes.”
“It’s freezing and winter lasts half the year there. Can you handle that?”
“It’s better than freezing to death here.” I smiled weakly, the movement pulling at my sore lips.
I got home at four in the morning. The apartment was still dark.
Zion hadn’t come back all night.
I folded my medical documents and tucked them into my bag. I walked over to the coffee table and picked up the old film camera he’d given me years ago.
He’d saved for three whole months to buy it for me during our first year together. Back then, he’d said, “From now on, my camera will only ever capture you.”
Looking back now, it was nothing but a hollow joke.
I put the camera into a plastic bag, then opened the TV cabinet. Inside were small trinkets we’d collected over the years: matching couple mugs, a wooden carving he’d brought back from overseas, and a scarf I’d knitted for him by hand—one he’d never worn, calling the style old-fashioned.
I grabbed a large trash bag and tossed every single item inside.
At eight in the morning, Zion finally returned, reeking of cheap pet shampoo.
He spotted the huge trash bag by the door and frowned. “What are you throwing away so early?”
“Garbage.” I held my warm water, my voice completely emotionless.
He glanced at my face. “Your fever broke?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“See? I knew you could handle it yourself.” He tossed his coat onto the sofa.
“That dog kept us up all night. I’m exhausted.” He walked to the fridge for a drink.
“By the way, I packed all the camping gear for the weekend trip. It’s by the front door.” He took a sip of water. “Don’t forget to pay that wedding photo deposit.”
I looked at the dark circles under his eyes, and his face felt strangely unfamiliar.
“Zion.”
“What?”
“I’ll ask you one last time.” I locked eyes with him. “You’re absolutely sure you’re going to Selena’s birthday party this Saturday, on our eighth anniversary?”
He slammed the water bottle down onto the counter.
“Will you ever let this go? I told you it’s just a get-together with friends!” He marched over and pointed a finger at me.
“Kelly, just because we’ve dated for eight years doesn’t mean you get to control my social life.”
“Selena’s just a kid. Are you really jealous of a younger girl? Can you be any more narrow-minded?”
I stared at his pointing finger and suddenly laughed.
“Fine.” I nodded. “Go then. Have fun.”
He looked surprised by my sudden compliance, clearly not expecting me to back down so easily.
“That’s more like it.” He lowered his hand, his tone softening slightly. “I’ll bring you a gift when I get back.”
Don’t bother. I thought to myself.
By the time he comes back, I’ll be in a whole different time zone.
