Back at One: Another LingOrm's Story

#9

It was Orm's first time truly staying at Ling's childhood home. She had visited Hong Kong a few times before, but those were always whirlwind trips, in and out, barely long enough to settle in. This time was different. After Daniel and Sarah's engagement ceremony, Orm and Ling had planned to spend more time with Ling's family. They would finally have the chance to unwind and catch up with everyone.

But the morning after the ceremony, Orm didn't wake up feeling as refreshed as she had hoped. As soon as she opened her eyes, she could feel the dull throb at the back of her head, slowly spreading through her temples. A headache. She rolled over in bed, wincing at the twisting pain in her stomach. It was the kind of discomfort that immediately made everything worse—her body ached, her head throbbed, and even the thought of getting out of bed felt like a monumental task.

Ling was already up, getting ready to meet Daniel for their day out with cousins. Orm had insisted that she would be fine staying behind, as Mrs. Kwong and Sarah had planned to show her around Hong Kong. She had been looking forward to it too. But now, as she lay there, feeling miserable, she knew she wasn't up for any sightseeing.

She could hear the quiet murmur of conversation downstairs—Mrs. Kwong and Sarah, enjoying their morning tea in the living room. Orm wanted to stay in bed, but the thought of staying upstairs alone while feeling like this was even worse. She needed comfort. She needed Ling. But Ling had already left.

Reluctantly, Orm pulled herself out of bed, moving slowly to avoid making her headache worse. Every step seemed to echo in her skull, the dull throb now pounding in sync with her heartbeat. Her stomach protested with every movement, twisting with nausea that left her feeling lightheaded. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself before making her way downstairs.

When Orm entered the living room, she found Mrs. Kwong and Sarah sitting comfortably on the couch, sipping their tea and chatting softly. They both looked up when they noticed her, immediately sensing that something was off.

"Orm, dear, are you alright?" Mrs. Kwong asked, her voice filled with concern as she watched Orm shuffle slowly toward the couch.

Orm didn't respond right away. Instead, she sat down heavily beside Mrs. Kwong and leaned into her, resting her head on her shoulder. Normally, Orm wasn't this physically affectionate with anyone other than Ling, but whenever she wasn't feeling well, her defenses dropped, and she became much more clingy. She didn't care if it seemed childish; at that moment, all she wanted was to be close to someone who made her feel safe.

"I don't feel good, Mama," Orm mumbled, closing her eyes as she nestled further into the warmth of Mrs. Kwong's side. Her headache pounded, and her stomach twisted again, making her feel even more queasy.

Mrs. Kwong placed a gentle hand on Orm's back, rubbing small circles in an attempt to comfort her. "Oh, sweetheart, you're burning up. You must have caught something. You should've said something earlier."

Orm sighed heavily, too tired to respond properly. The soft, rhythmic motion of Mrs. Kwong's hand on her back was soothing, but it wasn't enough to take away the pain throbbing in her head or the nausea swirling in her stomach. She wished Ling were there—Ling always knew how to make her feel better, whether it was with her quiet presence or the way she would softly hum while stroking Orm's hair.

Sarah set her tea down and moved to sit on Orm's other side, her eyes filled with concern. As a doctor, Sarah's instincts kicked in immediately. "How long have you been feeling like this, Orm?" she asked gently, her voice calm and professional.

"Just this morning," Orm whispered. "I thought it would go away, but it keeps getting worse."

Sarah gave a small nod, assessing the situation quickly. "It sounds like you're dehydrated. And with the headache and nausea, you might have caught a virus or just need to rest. Let me grab a glass of water for you, and we'll see if that helps."