*Pain*
A sharp, throbbing sensation invaded my dreams, stirring my hazy mind and dragging it awake.
*Throb* *Throb*
Argh!
I slowly forced my eyes open. I expected the familiar white ceiling of my room, but all I saw was an unrecognizable white blur that seemed to vibrate with the pulse of my head. My mind struggled to even process the shapes.
A sudden, heavy force built up in my chest, clawing its way through my throat until it erupted.
*Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
Each cough sent waves of heat through my throat and head. My vision cleared just a little with each rattle of my lungs. I clenched my teeth, digging my nails into the bedsheet as I waited for the stabs of pain to subside.
When it finally reached a tolerable level, I reached out for my phone. The screen blared into my eyes, and a blinding white light caused a piercing ache in my brain. I squinted, my fingers fumbling as I scrambled to lower the brightness.
I strained my eyes, focusing on the screen until I could vaguely make out the numbers 5:59. It took a while for my sluggish mind to process the time. There was one minute before my alarm would go off, and I wasn't in the mood to hear it. I quickly turned it off and threw my phone to the side, the device thudding softly against my bedframe.
I stayed curled up for a little longer, relishing the unparalleled sense of heat and comfort in the blankets. But I knew that Dad would come and wake me up soon if I didn't get up. With a groan that felt like sandpaper in my throat, I let go of the blanket and forced myself out of bed.
*Pain*
The instant my feet hit the floor, the chill of my room sent shivers racing through my body, yet the inside of my chest felt unnaturally hot. I took a step forward—and my balance vanished. I began staggering, and my body tumbled across the room until I crashed into the wall.
*Thud*
Before I could even process the impact, my legs buckled and gave out. I collapsed onto the floor, my strength vanishing as if a plug had been pulled. I tried pushing myself up, but my hands and knees failed to muster any strength whatsoever. They just trembled and gave way.
Eventually, I gave up and let myself sink into the ground. The cool floor felt heavenly against my hot skin. The sweat that had clung to my neck began to dry up. I let out a deep, satisfied breath, my cheek pressed against the carpet.
Suddenly, the door swung open, crashing into the doorstopper with a loud *CRACK*. The sound invaded my ears, sending waves of sharp, searing pain stabbing into my brain. My mind blurred as the pain etched itself into my being.
"Agh!" I felt those words hiss out of my throat, but I couldn't even hear myself.
I could vaguely make out vibrations on the floor approaching me. I was flipped upwards, my head lolling back as I was carried toward the bed. I looked up, but all I could see was a foggy shadow of a person. I blinked, trying to clear the haze from my vision.
*Pain*
My eyes winced, but I kept pushing until the foggy silhouette slowly transformed into my Dad. He had a… concerned look on his face?
Dad set me back down into the familiar comfort of my bed. He hurriedly tucked the blanket around me and pressed his hand to my forehead. His face darkened. He opened his mouth, saying something—but the words sounded like they were underwater, distorted and distant.
When I didn't respond, Dad stood up and ran out of the room. I knew that I shouldn't have, but I let my eyes close shut.
The rest only lasted a second. Dad shook me awake, his touch unusually frantic. When I opened my eyes, he was holding a small bowl of rice and some medicine. I clumsily sat up, propped against the bedframe, and forced the food down.
Each time I swallowed, a dull ache burned in my throat, but the feeling of the warm rice travelling down my body was worth it.
Once I finished, Dad gently fed me the medicine with a cup of warm water. I remained seated, waiting for the medicine to settle. Gradually, the haze in my mind began to lift. The pounding in my head eased, and for the first time today, my body finally relaxed.
When Dad saw me stop shivering, he let out a long breath and gently laid me back down. He put his hand on my head and began to trace small circles against my temple.
"You have a really bad fever, Lily. You can stay home for the day. I've already let your Mom and Brother know."
He spoke in a soft, quiet tone that didn't hurt my ears. It was a strange, perfect balance. I didn't know he had it in him. Whether Dad was mad or happy, he was always yelling—at least towards Big Brother and me. The silence of his voice felt heavier than his shouting.
My consciousness began to drift as he continued massaging my head, but his final question still reached me.
"Did you do something that got you sick, Lily?"
Did I… do something?
My feet suddenly felt cold, as if they were still buried in the ghost of yesterday's snow. A memory flashed through my mind. When I was arguing with Big Brother yesterday, the snow soaked through my shoes and socks. I had walked the whole way home in the freezing cold with wet feet.
I guess… I did do something after all.
"So…rry." Those words came out as a fading whisper.
Dad's hand suddenly felt even more gentle.
"You didn't do anything wrong, Lily," he assured me kindly. "Just rest now. It's okay."
Those were the last words I heard before my consciousness faded to black. I felt my lips twitch into a subtle smile.
My body sank into the mattress as I was dragged into the land of dreams. But just before I did, a thought tugged at the back of my mind.
Ah, I forgot to thank Big Brother for the sushi…
That was the last thing I remembered before the fever finally claimed my mind.