Chapter 2 - Seventy-Four Days Earlier
The number had sounded absurd when Jason first said it.
Seventy-four days.
Not ten days at the beach. Not two weeks visiting relatives. Not even a month abroad.
Seventy-four days on a family heritage voyage through Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, and Turkey.
Jason’s parents had talked about the trip for years. Margaret had collected brochures. Colin had traced the family ancestry to a small coastal town in Portugal. Elise had rearranged her work schedule to join them.
Nora had expected to go too.
Then her health collapsed.
Three weeks before the departure date, she woke unable to stand without gripping the walls. Her joints burned, her vision blurred whenever she moved too quickly, and a crushing exhaustion followed her through every room.
Her autoimmune condition had been stable for nearly two years. The flare arrived without warning.
Jason drove her to the hospital and remained beside her during the appointment. He listened while Dr. Miriam Keller explained the new medication schedule.
“She cannot miss a dose,” Dr. Keller told him. “Not one. Her system is already under strain.”
Jason nodded with impressive seriousness.
“I’ll make sure she takes everything.”
Dr. Keller looked at Nora.
“You should not be alone while you’re this weak.”
“We’ll arrange help,” Jason said before Nora could answer.
On the drive home, he placed one hand over hers.
“You heard her,” Nora said. “I can’t be alone.”
“You won’t be.”
“Are you canceling the trip?”
Jason’s hand withdrew.
“I said you won’t be alone.”
“Who will stay with me?”
“We’ll find someone.”
The next two weeks passed without him finding anyone.
Nora suggested a home health aide. Jason said the cost was unreasonable.
She suggested staying with her friend Tessa, who lived next door. Jason said Tessa’s house had too many stairs.
She suggested asking Margaret to remain behind for the first week. Jason became angry.
“My mother has waited twenty years for this trip.”
“So have you.”
“That doesn’t mean I should lose it.”
“I’m not asking you to lose everything. I’m asking you to stay until I’m stable.”
“You’re always asking me to put my life on hold.”
The sentence cut deeper because he said it calmly.
Nora stared at him.
“I have never asked you to cancel anything before.”
“You don’t have to say the words. You lie there looking helpless and expect everyone to feel guilty.”
“I am helpless right now.”
“You’re choosing to act helpless.”
That evening, Jason apologized.
He brought soup to the bedroom and sat beside her. He said the stress of the trip had made him cruel. He promised a nurse would check on her twice a day. He said his colleague’s wife had already agreed to help.
Nora wanted to believe him.
Believing him required less strength than fighting.
On the final night before the trip, Jason packed two large suitcases. He moved efficiently, folding shirts into exact rectangles and checking items from a list on his phone.
Nora watched from the bed.
“Did you confirm the nurse?”
“Yes.”
“What’s her name?”
“Rachel.”
“Can I have her number?”
“She’ll call you in the morning.”
“What time?”
“After breakfast.”
Nora noticed he had not looked at her once during the exchange.
“Jason.”
He closed the suitcase.
“What?”
“Please stay.”
He exhaled slowly.
“You’ll be fine. It’s only seventy-four days.”
“Only?”
“My family planned this trip years ago. I’m not canceling because you’re being dramatic.”
He walked into the bathroom before she could answer.
A few minutes later, Nora heard the medicine cabinet open.
Jason returned carrying her prescription bottles.
“I’m organizing these,” he said.
“I already organized them.”
“You mixed up Tuesday and Wednesday last week.”
“I corrected it.”
“You’re tired. Let me help.”
He placed the bottles on the dresser and filled the weekly organizer while Nora watched. When he finished, he set it on the nightstand.
“There. Seven days ready. Rachel can refill it.”
Nora reached for his hand.
“Call me every day.”
“I will.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
Before sunrise, Margaret, Colin, and Elise arrived in a hired car. Their voices drifted up from the front hall. Margaret called goodbye from the bottom of the stairs but did not come to the bedroom.
Jason entered carrying tea.
He placed it beside the pill organizer and kissed Nora’s forehead.
“I’ll call from the airport.”
She held his wrist.
“Don’t forget me.”
For a moment, his face softened.
Then he smiled.
“How could I?”
Nora listened as the front door closed.
The car pulled away.
The house became silent.
She slept for nearly two hours before waking with a dry mouth and a pounding headache.
The clock read 8:17 a.m.
Her morning dose was due.
She reached for the pill organizer, opened the first compartment, and found it empty.
She checked the next one.
Empty.
Every compartment was empty.
Nora stared at the plastic box.
A cold realization moved through her more quickly than fear.
May you like
Jason had not made a mistake.
He had wanted her to watch him fill it.
