in the middle of something

 

Deano was sure they were all sick with COVID. He thought he might faint as he was getting the rapid test done. At home.

"Look, we've been vaccinated and boosted," Caitlin was the calm one as she followed the instructions.

"But," he wanted to cry. It was crazy. He first had the bummed toe. Now Caitlin had one too. It was like they shared everything. Maybe he was pregnant too. He had to go throw up when she stuck the swab up his nose. "You're killing me!" He yelped.

By the time he got to the bathroom, he found out it was just diarrhea but his eyes were full of water and his nose still felt awful. He didn't think he could do the test on Caitlin. At this point, he couldn't leave the bathroom, either.

A few minutes later, she told him from the other side of the bathroom door. "You got it, babe!"

"What!" He yelled back before he took another dump.

 "COVID!"

"Are you sure!" She had to be wrong. She had to be. But his stomach begged to differ. He felt as if he was in a stupor of some kind. He finally flushed the commode and went to shower. He didn't want to be sick.

Naturally, he was certain this was all Roman's fault. No, on second thought, IT WAS ALL LALA'S FAULT. Why had they all gone out to dinner? How were they going to get through this?

"Are you OK?" He asked when he finally got back to bed.

She nodded yes.

"You can't be here if I'm sick," he told her.

"It's too late." She shrugged. 

"But."

"It's too  late." She looked at him as if to leave well enough alone.