A Library Romance

Chapter 13: Sick Day

I wake up feeling like the rain had leaked through the roof. Upon further inspection, I realize that I'm just sweating profusely. My bed sheets and pillowcase are soaked, making me cringe. I've had night sweats before, but not like this. Something is off.

A cough erupts from my throat suddenly, and I wince in pain at the immense pain that I feel as the phlegm dances in my throat. I put a hand to my forehead. I'm completely burning up. Another cough escapes me, but this time, I can feel my head pounding as if someone has hit me with a hammer. There's no other explanation; I must be sick.

What's weird is that I hardly ever get sick. My parents always make sure I got my shots and still nag me about annual check-ups even though I'm older. But even when the stomach bugs or viral infections were going around, I wouldn't get sick. My parents always said I have an immune system of steel.

I don't change into clothes. I just throw on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt so I'm not solely in my underwear and trudge downstairs. Lily is already awake, dressed in a cute maroon-colored dress and smelling of her new autumn perfume. She looks lively as ever, which tells me she didn't suffer the same fate as me.

"What happened to you?" Lily asks, gasping. "You look awful."

"I think I'm sick," I say. Except all that comes out was an inaudible croak.

"Oh dear, I think Milo's gotten sick from all that rain," my mother says. I nod meekly and sit down at the dining table beside Lily.

"We should make him some soup, pancakes aren't good for a sore throat, the thickness will just choke him," Lily says, putting a hand to my forehead. "He's burning up."

"But I want pancakes," I croak out.

"You're absolutely right Lily. Come, you can help me," my mother says. Lily gets up and follows my mother into the kitchen.

"Do I get any say in this!" I yell, my voice cracking horrifically as some of the phlegm breaks up to allow more air to escape into my throat.

"Sucks to be you, son. You should have listened to your old man," my father says. I glare at him, sighing as I put my head down on the table. Someone taps my shoulder. I sit up and Lily puts a couple of pills, a cap of cough syrup, and a mug of hot tea in front of me.

"Drink this and take these. It should help," she says.

"No way, that stuff is nasty," I croak.

"Do it or I'll force it down your throat," Lily threatens.

"Hoo-hoo, you'd better do what she says, son. Didn't realize she could be so demanding. She'll whip you right into shape. I can see it now," my father says. I roll my eyes and glare at him, but reluctantly down the nasty mixture and follow it with a huge gulp of tea. But I didn't expect the heat of the drink, and I end up spitting it out onto the table.

"It's hot, stupid!" Lily exclaims, sighing with annoyance as she disappears into the kitchen to find something to clean up the mess with. My father just laughs, shaking his head at me.

"You really don't know how to be sick, do you?" he asks. I shake my head. "The secret is, you whine as much as possible so that they dote on you and serve you hand and foot the entire day," my father says, laughing again.

"You're cruel," I croak. Lily returns with paper towels and clorox wipes, wiping the mess and sanitizing afterwards. My mother pops her head into the room.

"The soup is almost ready, but try to avoid making any more messes in my dining room, would you Milo?" my mother says, giggling as she heads back to the kitchen. I groan loudly, causing Lily to kiss my cheek.