I sat on the bed, continuing to look at my phone perplexed.  Tina wanted to see me today, I was looking forward to seeing someone who didn’t look at me like I was sick, but I was nervous at the urgency and need that Tina had to speak with me.

Maybe my book was a bad idea.  Maybe they fired her over the problem she was having with another author.  Maybe she was… god, maybe she is moving away with her family to Paraguay.

Paranoia is not your friend Bette Porter.  Shaking my head and jump to my feet, I only had a few hours till Tina came and that meant I needed to shower, change and get back home before that could happen; I had to make sure Alice didn’t try and join me on my meeting.

Rubbing my eyes I blearily drag myself to the door, surprised at how tired I still was.  Opening the door I am surprised by Helena who looked as if she was reaching for the door, “Hey Hels” I greet, pulling her in for a hug.  I know I must have surprised her because she is still tense.

“Bells, you’re up” she whispered, finally letting the tension out.  “I was about to cook some breakfast.” And she wanted to know if I was hungry.

“I’ll have some…”  What would I have?  My appetite was still next to non-existent and I was starting to feel nauseous.  I let my half sentence hang as I was trying to decide; to figure out a way to delicately get myself out of breakfast.

Helena touching my elbow startled me from my thoughts and caused me to jump about a centimetre.  Stepping back a moment I regard Helena who is looking at me with kind, knowing eyes.  “Why don’t I make you a smoothie.”

I did love smoothies, and Helena made some of the best.  A few years ago, when I was suffering from a particularly bad month of radiation therapy she went to a nutritionist and learned about the best ways to try and get needed vitamins into me; learnt how to make the best mixed fruit and protein smoothie ever.

I rarely was able to finish and entire glass, they are very filling, but it helped me on my road to recovery.  Days after I rallied and was able to stay home, rather then be readmitted to the hospital.