Chapter 3

It hurt.

My head hurt.

My whole body ached.

My eyes refused to open.

In a hazy state, I couldn’t distinguish between dream and reality.

It felt like I was being cooked in hot water, excruciatingly uncomfortable.

A cool hand pressed against my forehead, followed by the cold beep of a device.

Then, a woman’s anxious cry:

“What are we going to do? Avery’s temperature is already 104°F!”

Hurried footsteps echoed in the room.

“Leo’s at 104°F too! We can’t buy medicine, and the neighbors don’t have any to lend. This won’t do!”

“Let’s go to the hospital!”

“It’s on lockdown! How long will it take to get approval? Plus, with the special circumstances, there might not even be beds at the hospital!”

“Why do my children have such a hard life…”

A familiar male voice declared decisively, “There are only three fever reducers left. Give them to Avery? She can’t be harmed! Otherwise, we’d never forgive ourselves…”

These words felt like they came from another lifetime, instantly clearing my hazy mind.

Like someone struggling for survival, I burst out of a steaming cauldron.

I opened my eyes!

Startling the man and woman in the room, who then erupted in joyful surprise.

“Oh, my sweet Avery, you’re finally awake! You scared Mom half to death!”

Two much younger faces leaned over me, two living, breathing people, bringing tears to my eyes.

My hands trembling, I touched my neck. It was perfectly fine!

I shot up, ignoring the damp sweat on the bedsheets.

Due to the high fever, my voice was hoarse. “What year is it?”

Mom and Dad exchanged glances, their worry evident. “Oh no, the fever made her confused.”

“It’s 2022. You and Leo are on winter break. Avery, just take the medicine…”

I suppressed my pounding heart, snatched the three fever reducers from Mom’s hand, and jumped out of bed, rushing towards Leo’s room.