Midnight Terrors

That night, they settled in for bed, the soft hum of the air conditioner and the occasional chirping of crickets outside lulling them into a peaceful slumber. But the tranquility was short-lived, as Ashley's body had other plans. At 2 am, she was jolted awake by a wave of nausea that had been building up inside her. She tried to fight it, but it was no use. She threw off the covers and rushed to the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet before she started vomiting. Her body, still reeling from the effects of chemotherapy, was weak and fragile. The vomiting was like a tidal wave, leaving her exhausted and drained. She leaned against the wall, trying to catch her breath, her head spinning. Erica, who had been sleeping lightly, was startled awake by Ashley's movements. "Ash, are you okay?" she whispered, her voice laced with concern. Ashley nodded, still trying to process what was happening. "I'm fine, just sleep, it's okay," she said, trying to reassure her friend. But Erica wasn't convinced. She threw off the covers and got out of bed, rushing to Ashley's side. "Ash, you're shaking," she said, her voice trembling. Ashley tried to smile, but it was a weak attempt. Erica helped her back to bed, fetching her a glass of water and a towel to wipe her face. As they sat there in the darkness, Erica stroked Ashley's hair, trying to comfort her. "Do you need to go to the hospital?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Ashley shook her head, her eyes closed. "No, I'm fine, just... just need to rest," she mumbled. Erica nodded, holding Ashley's hand. She stayed awake for a while, watching over her friend, making sure she was okay. Eventually, Ashley's body began to relax, and she drifted off to sleep, exhausted. Erica stayed awake, her eyes fixed on Ashley's face, her heart filled with concern and love for her friend.