The nausea struck without warning in the middle of the afternoon.
I had been sitting by the window trying to read one of Elena’s books when a violent wave hit me. My stomach twisted sharply, and bile rose fast in my throat. I dropped the book and rushed to the bathroom, barely closing the door behind me.
I fell to my knees in front of the toilet and vomited hard. My body shook with each painful heave. Tears streamed down my face as I tried desperately to stay quiet. The sickness was worse today. Stronger. It felt like my entire body was rejecting everything I had eaten.
I was in the middle of another painful dry heave when I heard the bedroom door open.
My heart stopped.
A maid had entered my room.
I froze, still kneeling on the bathroom floor, trying to control my breathing. I hadn’
