Amaryllis Read Online Free PDF

together, this was the greeting they shared. If there was ever a time when one of them didn’t compliment the other on who was the more gorgeous of the two, something was wrong.
    Michelle entered the town home and James followed. “Mickey, I’m gonna get dinner set on the table. Are you hungry?” James asked as he headed toward the kitchen.
    â€œI’m famished, but I gotta check on my sister first. She’s been asleep way too long.”
    â€œDidn’t you say she’s on heavy medication?”
    â€œBut I also gave her chamomile tea. You go ahead and start without me.”
    Michelle climbed the stairs to the third floor. She walked into Amaryllis’ room and turned on the light. Next to the bed, Michelle saw the telephone on the floor. Amaryllis was lying on her stomach with her hair strewn about her face. Michelle placed the telephone on its base, then sat down on the bed and tapped Amaryllis’s shoulder.
    â€œAmaryllis, sweetie, wake up.”
    Amaryllis stirred, but made no effort to turn over. Michelle removed her hair from her face and shook her. Amaryllis mumbled something, but didn’t move. Michelle stood and pulled the sheets from her. She rolled Amaryllis onto her back and lightly tapped her face. “Amaryllis, please wake up; you’re scaring me.”
    She sleepily opened one eye. “Why are you bothering me, Michelle?”
    â€œBecause you’ve been asleep since this morning.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œAnd it’s almost nine-thirty at night.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œAnd you need to get up and eat something.”
    Amaryllis rolled onto her stomach. “I’m not hungry, I’m sleepy.”
    â€œWe’ve got to get you off of that Vicodin. Somebody could’ve broken in here and taken everything and you would’ve never known it.”
    Amaryllis quickly sat up. “Girl, if you touch my Vicodin, I’ll put a serious hurting on you.”
    â€œYeah, whatever. James is downstairs and he bought Chinese food. I want you to meet him, so let’s get you washed up and dressed so you can come down and eat with us.”
    â€œMichelle, I look a mess and I don’t want him to meet me for the first time with me looking all bruised up. What will he think?”
    â€œHe won’t think anything. James doesn’t know what happened to you.”
    â€œI’m not going downstairs,” Amaryllis protested.
    â€œYou have to eat.”
    â€œSo, I’ll eat up here, in my room.”
    â€œAmaryllis, James is here at least twice a week. He’s bound to run into you sooner or later.”
    â€œLet it be later then.”
    Michelle helped Amaryllis into the bathroom and started the water in the shower. When she saw Amaryllis struggling with her broken shoulder to get undressed, she assisted her. She helped Amaryllis into the tub and gave her a bar of soap and a wash towel. “Are you gonna be okay by yourself?”
    â€œYeah, I’ll be fine.”
    â€œI’ll come back up in ten minutes to check on you.” Michelle left the bathroom and went to the dresser drawer to lay out a clean pair of underwear and a nightgown on the bed for Amaryllis. Michelle had unpacked her sister’s things and placed them in drawers last night, after Amaryllis had passed out from the Vicodin and chamomile tea.
    Michelle heard moaning. She went back into the bathroom, pulled the shower curtain back and saw tears streaming down Amaryllis’ face. “What’s wrong, sweetie?”
    â€œMy shoulder hurts when I lift my arm.”
    Michelle stopped the shower and helped Amaryllis out of the tub. After wrapping a huge terry cloth towel around her, Michelle inserted the plug in the drain, sprinkled a handful of Epsom salt in the tub and ran warm water. After she helped Amaryllis back into the tub and carefully sat her down, Michelle got on her knees, rolled up her sleeves and gently bathed her baby sister.