Alice wiped the sweat from her mother's face. The room smelled of sickness and stale air. She had been doing this routine for days now, ever since her mother collapsed after that party.
She filled a big mug with cool water from the bathroom sink. Then she took a clean hand towel and wet it. Gently, she washed her mother's face first. Her mother didn't react. Her eyes were open but empty, like windows to a house where nobody lived anymore.
"Mom, I'm going to change your clothes now," Alice said softly.
She helped her mother stand. Her mother's body felt light, too light, like a bird with broken wings. Alice removed the sweaty clothes and cleaned her mother's skin with the wet towel. The water dripped down her mother's back and Alice caught it with the towel. Every movement was careful, precise.
She dressed her mom in clean clothes. A simple blue shirt and soft pants. Then she guided her to a chair in the corner of the room.
"Sit here for a minute, okay?"
Her mother sat down without a word. Her gaze was fixed at Alice.
Alice turned to the bed. The sheets were soaked with fever sweat from days of sickness. She pulled them off quickly, wrinkling her nose at the smell. She grabbed fresh sheets from the closet and made the bed.
"Okay Mom, back to bed."
She helped her mother lie down again. Then she placed the icebag on her forehead. Her mother's skin was hot beneath her fingers.
"Go to sleep," Alice whispered.
She gathered the dirty clothes and the wet bedsheet. At the door, she turned back.
"Goodbye, Mom. I'll be right outside. Just going to clean these."
"Let's talk when I get better."
"Sure mom."
Her mother looked at her before closing her eyes and falling asleep.
Alice left the room. She walked down the hallway with the bundle of clothes in her arms. The laundry room was small but functional. She dumped the clothes in the washing machine and put the bedsheet in the laundry bag. She would deal with it later.
Her own body was sticky with sweat. She needed a shower.
In her bathroom, she turned on the water and waited for it to get warm. Steam filled the small space. She stepped in and let the hot water wash over her. Her muscles relaxed for the first time in days.
She had brought her phone into the bathroom. She always did, ever since her mother got sick when she was only 9. She couldn't risk missing a call.
The phone buzzed against the sink. She peeked out from behind the shower curtain. The screen showed Damian's name.
She reached out, her wet hand dripping on the phone. She answered.
"Hello?"
"Alice? Where are you?" Damian's voice sounded strange. Worried.
"I'm at home. Why?"
"Can you come outside? Or open the door?"
Alice's heart stopped. She felt the blood drain from her face.
"Where are you?" she asked, her voice tight.
"I'm at your front door."
"No. You need to leave. My mom is here."
"So? I can say hello."
"No!" The word came out too loud. "You can't come inside. My mom is very sick. If you come in and she sees you..."
"Okay. Okay." Damian's voice was calm. "I get it. But I'm going to wait out here until you open the door."
"Damian, please—"
"I'll wait."
The line went dead.
Alice stared at the phone. Then she cursed under her breath and quickly finished her shower. She dried off as fast as she could.
Then she stood in front of her closet, completely naked and dripping water on the floor. Nothing was going on between her and Damian. She knew that. They were cousins. Their mothers were twins. They shared blood.
But still, she wanted to look good.
She picked out her best home dress. It was a simple yellow sundress with small flowers on it. Nothing fancy. But it made her feel pretty.
She put it on and dried her hair quickly. She didn't bother with makeup, just a simple lotion on her face and arms.
She walked to the front door slowly. Her heart was beating fast. She checked the eyehole.
It was 6 PM. The streetlights were already on. Outside, Damian stood on her doorstep. He was holding something in his hands. A cardboard cup holder with two cups of coffee. A paper bag dangled from his fingers.
Alice took a deep breath and opened the door.
"Hi," she said.
Damian looked behind. His face lit up when he saw her.
"Hey. You okay?"
Alice stepped outside and closed the door behind her. She didn't want her mother hearing any of this.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I was worried about you." Damian held up the coffee. "You looked really sick in class today. I brought you something."
Alice looked at the coffee. Then at his face. He seemed genuine. But after everything that had happened, she still didn't fully trust him.
"Come inside," he said. "Let's sit down."
"No." Alice shook her head. "You can't come inside. I told you. My mom..."
"Right. Sorry." Damian looked down. "I forgot."
He handed her the coffee. She took it. The warmth seeped into her cold fingers.
"I'm sorry," Damian said. "For not helping you more in class, with the teacher. I wonder what's wrong with her."
"It's fine." Alice shrugged. "She's like Hitler anyway. There's nothing anyone could do."
Damian laughed. "I've only been at this school for a few weeks and I already agree with that comparison."
"See? You get it."
They stood in awkward silence for a moment. The evening air was cool. Alice shivered slightly.
"Maybe we should go to the park," she suggested. "We can sit and talk there."
Damian shook his head. "No. Your mom is sick. You should stay close to home."
"Please," Alice insisted. "This isn't the right place to talk."
"Alice." Damian's voice was firm but gentle. "It's not a good idea to leave your mom."
He sat down on the stairs in front of the door. He patted the spot next to him.
"Sit with me. We can talk here."
Alice hesitated. Then she sat down next to him. Their shoulders almost touched.
Damian opened the paper bag. "I also got some croissants and chocolate cookies."
He handed her a croissant. She took it and dipped it in her coffee. She took a bite. It was perfect. Warm and buttery.
"Do you like it?" he asked.
Alice nodded, her mouth full. "This is really good."
"Good."
She swallowed. "Why are you doing this, Damian? What's the meaning of these gifts?"
Damian looked at his coffee cup. "You looked like you needed it more than anyone else."
Alice smiled. "Is this another one of your revenge plots?"
"No." Damian shook his head firmly. "I'm done with revenge. I want to do what's right for now."
Alice studied his face. He seemed honest. "How's your mom doing?"
Damian's expression softened. "She's okay. My dad brought in this amazing doctor. This guy has traveled all over the world. He's worked with really tough patients."
"That's good."
"Yeah." Damian nodded. "He suggested we try this new technology. And immunotherapy. I think this time things might actually work out."
Alice listened carefully. She watched his face as he talked about his mother. There was hope there. She hadn't seen that look on him before.
"What about your mom?" Damian asked. "Is she getting better?"
Alice looked down at her coffee. "I don't know what's wrong with her. She just... got worse. On the day I went to the sports after party. She went looking for me remember. And then I never asked what caused her to get so sick..."
She couldn't finish the sentence.
Damian sighed. He looked at her with such sadness that it made her chest ache.
"I'm so sorry," he said.
He leaned in. For a moment, Alice thought he was going to kiss her.
But at the last moment, she hugged him instead. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close.
"I'm so glad you came," she whispered. "I've been so lonely."
Damian's arms wrapped around her back. He patted her gently.
"I wish I hadn't meddled in your life so much," he said into her hair.
Alice pulled back slightly. "You didn't meddle. You just unmasked my shitty friends. There's nothing wrong with that."
"You sure?"
"Yes." Alice nodded firmly. "Some friends aren't meant to be. I was tired of them anyway. I just couldn't find a way to leave without getting stabbed in the back."
She paused.
"The cheating angle was a good way to get back at them."
Damian laughed. He bit into his croissant.
They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes. The street was quiet. Only the occasional car passed by.
"So," Alice said carefully. "What's your relationship with Krissy?"
Damian stopped chewing. "Krissy?"
"The girl in class. You were talking to her. Passing chits."
"Oh, her." Damian shrugged. "She's just another admirer. Nothing serious."
Alice's throat tightened. "Oh. I see."
She hated how jealous she felt. She had no right to be jealous. They were literally related by blood. They shared family, a little too closely.
But still.
"You should eat a cookie," she said, changing the subject. She held out the bag.
Damian shook his head. "I'm good."
"Eat one." Alice insisted. "Please."
Damian took a cookie and bit into it. "Thanks."
Alice smiled. "I couldn't repay you for saving Melvin the other day. So this is the least I can do."
"Alice." Damian set down his coffee. "You don't need to repay me for anything."
"Yes I do."
"No, you don't." His eyes met hers. "What I did was my duty. I was helping someone in trouble. That's what you're supposed to do."
"But—"
"If anyone has any debt, it's me." Damian's voice was heavy. "I tried to hurt you before. Remember? I wanted revenge. I wanted to destroy your family."
Alice was quiet.
"But I changed," Damian continued. "And I want to do what's right now. So please. Don't thank me for doing what any decent person would do."
Alice looked at her coffee cup. The coffee was almost gone now. She took a sip.
"It's almost 7:30," she said. "You should go home."
Damian nodded. He stood up. "Yeah. You're right."
Alice stood too. She smiled at him. "Thank you. For everything."
Before she could say anything else, she hugged him again. This time it was quick.
Damian hugged her back. "Take care of yourself, Alice."
He turned to leave. But just as he reached the bottom step, a car pulled into the driveway.
Alice's blood ran cold.
It was her father's car.
She watched as the car parked and the engine died. Her father got out. He locked the car and turned around.
His eyes landed on Damian.
"Alice?" Her father's voice was confused. "Who is this?"
Alice forced a smile. "Just a school friend, Dad."
Damian stepped forward. "Hello sir. My name is Damian Jones."
Alice's father studied him for a moment. Then he smiled.
"Well, nice to meet you, Damian. Would you like to come inside for dinner? My wife will be happy to—"
"No, sir." Damian shook his head. "I was just leaving. I need to get home."
Her father nodded. "Alright then. Drive safe."
Damian got into his car. The engine started. He waved at Alice through the window.
Alice waved back.
She watched his car drive away until it disappeared around the corner.
"Handsome boy," her father said. "Are you dating him?"
Alice blushed. "No, Dad. We're just friends."
"Well," her father said. " he seems like a good kid."
"That's an overestimation," Alice muttered.
Her father laughed and walked inside the house. Alice followed him.
But as she stepped through the door, she felt a massive wave of relief wash over her. What she had feared wasn't her father discovering the boy. What she had feared was what would happen if Damian came inside and saw her mother.
Her mother, who was sick in bed. Her mother, who might start asking questions. Her mother, who might create chaos.
Alice already had a hard enough week. She couldn't handle another drama.
Not right now.
The house was quiet. Her father went to the kitchen to make something to eat. Alice went to her room and sat on the bed.
She could still feel Damian's hug around her. She could still smell his cologne on her dress.
She knew she shouldn't feel this way. But her heart didn't care about any of that.
She looked at her phone. A message from Damian.
"Goodnight, Alice. Sleep well."
She typed back: "Goodnight, Damian. Drive safe."
Then she put down her phone and stared at the ceiling.
Everything was so complicated. Her mother was sick. Her friends had betrayed her. Her cousin had both hurt her and saved her. And now she was falling for someone she could never be with.
Alice closed her eyes.
She could feel the coffee still warm in her stomach. She could still taste the chocolate cookie on her tongue.
Tomorrow would be another day. But for now, she just wanted to rest.