Ice and Fire novel Chapter 69

Early next morning, Jackson received a call from the army base, and was told that there was something that needed to be urgently handled by him.

He didn't have the heart to wake Cheery up when he saw that she was still sleeping after he spoke on the phone.

When Jackson felt Cherry move, he carefully asked, "Are you awake?" and when she opened her eyes and looked at him, he focused his gaze on her.

"Yes, when did you wake up?" asked Cherry.

Jackson gently stroke Cherry's hair, and said, "Just earlier."

Cherry read Jackson's face, and figured that there must be something on Jackson's mind, and asked, "Do you have anything to tell me?"

Jackson paused for a moment, and then said, "I have to go back to the barracks soon."

"Oh, " replied Cherry, "Then you have to start packing. You don't want to be late."

Cherry knew that military orders could never be violated, and it seemed that Jackson had already wasted quite some time waiting for her to be awake.

After they got up out of bed and washed, Jackson put on his army uniform. After she checked his clothing and made sure that it was okay, Cherry whispered to him, "You go on ahead, I'll be right here waiting for you when you get back."

"I don't know for how many days I'll be gone; I don't want to leave you, " said Jackson.

In contrast to him, Cherry looked more indifferent, and said, "The military comes first. Don't worry, I take good care of myself when I'm home alone."

Before he left, he kissed her forehead, and reluctantly replied, "Okay."

Watching Jackson leave, Cherry felt slightly wistful?and sad, because she was yet again condemned to be alone for a period, devoid of Jackson's companionship.

Jackson had already been gone for several days, and the longer Cherry stayed at home alone, the more she felt upset. She spent every afternoon looking out the balcony, and after dusk fell, she just stared blankly at the ceiling for most of the night. She was thinking about Emily, and about the days that they had spent together. She missed Jackson, and no longer blamed him for Emily's accident, aware that her love had surpassed her blame.

One morning, Cherry got up as usual, and after she washed, she stood on the balcony to breathe the fresh air from outside.

Soon after that, Cherry didn't feel so good, and started to get pale. She patted herself on the chest, but nausea struck her just before her hands reached her chest. With her hands clamped around her mouth, Cherry immediately ran into the toilet.

It was not until half an hour passed that Cherry started to feel better again.

She looked at her pale face in the mirror, and thought that she felt that way because she hadn't eaten a square meal in days. She didn't have any kind of appetite, and could do nothing but to fight with her body.

As she walked out of the toilet, Cherry sank herself in the sofa and drank a cup of water, something that made her feel much more better. She then switched on the television to watch news, and the whole morning passed quickly in leisure.