Worth The Trouble ?

Song: La Llorona // Alanna Ubach & Antonio Sol

Sorry?

•••

"You look drop-dead gorgeous, Rose," I complimented as she walked out of the walk-in closet dressed in a yellow gown, her hair up in a styled messy bun. It looked amazing on her olive skin and accentuated the curves she'd developed after her pregnancies.

Rose looked as elegant as ever, and I wondered how my dork of a brother managed to marry her.

"Thank you, hon," She said with a beaming smile and shimmering eyes. I sat on her and Dylan's bed, my legs crossed in a yoga position, and watched as she made sure her clutch contained everything she needed.

She then pulled open a drawer and pulled out a small, portable machine. She made her way towards me and took a seat on the bed right next to me. I pulled papa's hoodie off my body so that I was left wearing just a bra.

Ever since my diagnosis, Rose volunteered to check my vitals every day to make sure I was alright. I didn't want to have to keep going to the hospital for check-ups, and this guaranteed that I had a health care professional looking for any other symptoms.

I held my arm out for her, and she wrapped the cuff of what I called the 'blood pressure machine' onto my bicep, just above my elbow. She made sure it was tightly wrapped around my left arm before she pressed a button on the machine. With a whirring sound, the cuff started tightening against my arm. I simply focused on making sure I was relaxed while Rose read the screen on the machine.

After a few seconds, the cuff loosened around me. I glanced down at the screen and pursed my lips once I realized I didn't understand the numbers it displayed.

My eyes flickered up to Rose who lifted the back of her hand to press it against my forehead, "So, what's it lookin' like?" I asked, referring to my blood pressure.

With a sigh, she removed the cuff from around my arm and glanced back down at the screen, "Amber, sweetheart, your blood pressure is higher than usual. I think you're coming down with a fever since you also feel hot."

"That's because I am hot," I tried to joke, but I was met by the sight of her unusually serious expression. My smile faltered and I rubbed my arm, "Rose, I feel fine, honest."

"Does your abdomen feel worse?" She asked, cocking her chin its direction. 

"It feels the same as it always does," I replied honestly with a shake of my head. "It only hurts when I sit down or lean forward, but that's just normal at this point."

Rose thinned her lips, "None of this is normal, Amber," She said in a slightly dejected tone. She wrapped the cord around the machine and stood up to put it back in the drawer. I frowned at her back, watching as she pulled her phone out of her clutch to make note of my blood pressure like she always did.

With a wince, I stood up and walked towards her. I wrapped an arm around her waist in a side-hug and rested my head on the side of her arm. Her heels made her slightly taller than me, "Rose, I feel okay. I promise."

She glanced at me through the mirror, "Maybe I shouldn't go. Dealing with two one-year-olds and a six-year-old may be too much. It might just make your blood pressure heighten."

I snorted, "I doubt my blood pressure could go any higher than it already is," I smiled, but she remained contemplative. I let my smile fall, "Rose, you need a break. What's better than dressing up and going somewhere that'll serve you food while you're away from your kids for a while?"