Bedtime Stories.

The car halted. My heart arched as I got down. I was so stupid to assume he desired me. I stepped down and it zoomed off. Mr Lawson didn't even look back; he didn't make an attempt to wheedle me. I bit my lip and walked away with a heavy heart.

It wasn't his fault, it was my fault that I fell for him. I clenched my hand—I needed to redo my checklist; I kept falling in love with assholes!

I glanced around for a taxi. One was approaching my direction and I flagged it down. My phone beeped just as the taxi stopped beside me. I gave a tight smile at the driver and brought out my phone from my purse. A message from my Mom popped up.

She had sent me a list of drugs to buy for her and Zoe.

I ducked my head to reach the eyes of the taxi driver. "I'm sorry." I said. "I need to buy some stuff before heading off."

The drover nodded in understanding and drove off. I latched my phone and approached a pharmacy at the corner of the road. Its bright bulbs blazed the lone street.

I entered and stopped at the counter. A pretty woman stood up from her seat and came up to me. Her hair was held up in a near knot and she had a welcoming smile on her face.

I showed her the list of drugs I wanted to buy and she went around the shelves picking it out.

She was packaging the drug when she said, "you look stressed."

"Huh?"

I was still fussing over Mr Lawson's action that I didn't realize the woman was striking up a conversation with me. I didn't have anyone to pour out my anger to—except Sheila and Dominic and both of them were unattainable because Dominic had a thing for me and Sheila worked for Mr Lawson—so I just told her the whole truth.

"It's a long night." I admitted. "First, I found out my daughter passed out, then I burnt my boss' jacket and he…" I paused remembering the kiss. It hurt more than the rest of the event which happened that night.

The woman's bright smile dimmed with concern. "Your daughter passed out?!"

"Yeah," I nodded. "I don't know why, but I think it's the flu."

"Is she okay now?"

"Yeah."

She glanced at me before calculating my purchase. "So, that means you are stressed about getting fired."

I haven't actually thought Mr Lawson was going to fire me especially because he had just kissed me. I scoffed. Who was I kidding? It was hard to predict his actions.

"No, I'm not." I clarified. "But he can though."

"Don't worry, you won't get fired." She leaned closer like she wanted to reveal a secret to me. "I've done the worst to my boss and look at me; I'm still working here."

I smiled. "Lucky for you."

She shrugged. "I guess so."

She stretched the plastic bag to me. I took it and moved up my lips in a small smile.

"Thanks for listening to my rants."

She beamed. "I'm glad to be of help."

I paid her for the drug and nodded at her before waking out of the pharmacy.

⚜⚜⚜

"Did you buy the meds?" My mom asked when I got home.

I nodded. "Yes," I said. "How's she?"

"Well, she is feeling better."

I asked my mom if Zoe had eaten, then went to check on her.

I held the door knob and opened it gently. I peeped to check if she was asleep.

She was lying down on her bed. She sat up when she saw me.

"Mom!"

I entered inside and sat on the bed with her. I smiled and brushed her soft curls. "I thought you were sleeping," I said. "How are you feeling, princess?"

She cradled her teddy bear to her chest. "Happy!"

I smiled. "That's good."

I gave her the medication, then put her back to bed.

I touched her forehead, she was really burning up.

I quickly went to take a bowl of water and a napkin. I dipped the napkin into the bowl and used it to dabbed her forehead.

Zoe's eyes began to flutter as dizziness overwhelmed her.

"Mom," she shifted in the bed and yawned. "I'm feeling sleepy."

I nodded and adjusted the sheet around her petite body. "Alright, get some sleep."

She turned. "Can you sleep beside me tonight?"

I removed the napkin from her forehead. "Of course, princess." Then, I hugged her lightly. "I will stick to you like glue."

Zoe giggled and adjusted her head on the pillow. "Mom, please read a bedtime story to me."

"Okay," I brushed her curls backward and stretched my hand to take the bedtime books that were piled up on her pink nightstand.

"So which one do you want?" I said, shoving the books in my hands. "Ugly duckling? Tinkerbell? Jack and the wizard? The princess and the magical castle?"

"I prefer to listen to the princess and the magical castle," she said. "Mom, please start from when the princess got back to the castle."

I dropped the other books and nodded. "Alright"

I opened the storybook and searched for that part. Then, I read it slowly. My voice drifted through the bedroom like a summer breeze.

"The princess was very happy to be back in the castle. The lady in waiting was waiting for her at the entrance of the castle. The princess saw her lady in waiting and ran to her to hug her tight," I lay close to Zoe and hugged her. Soft breaths were drifting from her nose and her eyes were closed. "Then, the lady in waiting told her to get some rest. So, the princess went into her chamber and slept." I finished the story and closed the book.

Zoe was already asleep.

I kissed her cheek. "Goodnight, Princess."