The next morning, Casey woke up feeling under the weather. Her body ached, and her head was spinning. Despite her illness, she forced herself to cook a simple meal for herself and Lily—scrambled eggs with toast and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. As she cooked, she felt a wave of nausea wash over her, but she persevered, determined to take care of Lily.
Lily noticed that something was wrong and hovered around Casey, concern etched on her small face. "Mommy, are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with worry. Casey smiled weakly and reassured her that she was fine, just a little tired.
