34. Aiyana

Chapter thirty-four

Aiyana

Saturday, December 16, 2023

T he flight this morning took off really early, and Kat and I sat at the very back of the plane, both of us leaning on one another to sleep in. Kat didn't get back until the sun had started coming up, so at least one of us had a good night.

When we got back home, I placed an online order for more menstrual products, knowing my cycle is about to start, and once it does, I won't be going anywhere.

I make myself lunch and listen to music, writing down some ideas to discuss with Rose about a vaccine we're working on. It's been in process for a while now, but I've been looking into the methodology, and I think there's a quicker way to formulate the product without compromising quality or increasing costs. It could bridge the gap, allowing us to release it to the market sooner so we can help better protect children in endemic areas more quickly.

I send her a text, asking her to remind me to discuss it with her on Monday, and then head to the bathroom to take some painkillers and stuff the massive tampon in to stop the floodgates that just erupted. My body aches all over, the cramps seizing my breath as I keel over in pain. I grab the TENS unit from under the sink along with some alcohol swabs, cleaning the skin and applying the adhesive pads to my lower abdomen before climbing into bed and turning it on the lowest setting. The cramps finally start to settle enough that I can fall asleep. I need a fucking nap.

***

When I wake up, I feel nauseous, and my lower back aches from sleeping flat on it instead of curled around a pillow, but it's the only way to keep the TENS unit in place while I sleep. As usual, I trade one pain for another, settling on back pain as the lesser of the two evils.

I'm also pretty sure you aren't supposed to keep them on as long as I do, but when I'm in this much pain, it's hard to care when I've finally found some form of relief.

I can't get out of bed just yet, so I turn the machine off and remove the pads from my stomach before rolling over on my side and grabbing my cell phone.

There's a message from Rose letting me know she's excited to hear my ideas, and I see an email with a calendar reminder for a meeting to discuss them with her. I smile to myself. I got really lucky with this job. Rose has been incredible.

There's also a message from Kat saying she left with Alessandro to go for a run. Sounds fucking horrible. I roll my eyes at the thought.

And the last text is from Kas.

Kas

You need anything this weekend?

Did you sneak into my phone and steal the password to my period app or something?

Kas

I tracked it for years when we were together in high school and undergrad. You don't think I know you've got a 28 day cycle and a menstrual phase of 6 days?

Kas, that's fucking creepy.

Then why is it making me feel all warm and fuzzy inside?

Kas

I'm creepy for you baby ;)

Kas

That sounded better in my head.

Kas

Ignore that.

To answer your question, I'm fine. Thank you though. Gonna head to bed early tonight I think.

Kas

Goodnight my little viper 3

Goodnight Kas.

Butterflies take flight in my stomach when he calls me that, but just like every other night, I take a flamethrower to them and remind myself why they can't be there in the first place.