---
Waiting.
A few minutes passed.
The clock read 07:02.
Yuna stirred weakly.
Her eyes fluttered open.
Clearer than before.
She stared at the ceiling.
For a few seconds.
Then shifted her gaze to the side.
Toward the clock on the wall.
It took ti to focus.
But eventually, it settled there.
07:02.
---
Her eyes widened slightly.
Her brows twitched.
Her body tried to sit up.
Slowly.
Her hands pressed against the futon.
Unsteady.
I watched her.
Didn’t move right away.
She forced herself.
Half-sitting.
Her body swayed.
"...Yuna."
She stopped.
Didn’t look at .
Still staring at the clock.
"...I’m... late..."
Her voice was hoarse.
Broken.
I stood up and moved a little closer.
"What are you doing."
She tried to straighten her back.
Failed.
Her body slumped forward.
"...I have to go to... school..."
I looked at her for a few seconds.
No change in my expression.
"Don’t be stupid."
I held her shoulder.
Pushed her back down onto the futon.
"Sleep."
She didn’t resist.
She didn’t have the strength for it.
But her eyes remained open.
"...today is... PE..."
"You’re taking the day off."
"...my grades..."
"Let them be."
She fell silent.
Her breathing hitched slightly.
Her eyes blinked slowly.
As if she wanted to say sothing else.
But decided against it.
---
Her body went limp against the futon again.
Her head sank into the pillow.
I pulled the blanket up.
Covering her to her neck.
Her hand slipped out a little.
I tucked it back in.
She didn’t protest.
Her eyes slowly closed.
"...I’m sorry..."
I didn’t answer.
I sat back down.
It seed the fever was making her delirious.
To be expected.
---
I looked at the clock.
07:11.
Still early.
But her body temperature hadn’t dropped significantly.
I grabbed the thermoter again.
Touched her shoulder.
"Sit up a little."
She reacted slower now.
Her eyes half-open.
I put the thermoter in.
A few seconds.
Beep.
38.5°C.
Down a little.
Not significant.
But at least it wasn’t going up.
I put it away.
Then looked at the cloth on her forehead.
It was already warm.
I changed it again.
Routine.
Simple.
Repetitive.
The clock ticked.
08:03.
---
Light stread through the window.
Brighter now.
The air began to change.
Not as cold as before.
I sat in the sa spot.
Phone in hand.
Rereading the sa things.
No new information.
Just confirmation.
Fluids.
Rest.
Monitor.
Yuna stirred.
More restless this ti.
Her brows furrowed.
Her breathing shifted.
Faster.
Her hand slipped out of the blanket.
Grasping at empty air.
"...hot..."
I touched her forehead.
Still hot.
---
But different.
Her skin was slightly damp.
I looked closer.
A thin layer of sweat.
On her temples.
On her neck.
I paused for a few seconds.
Grabbed my phone.
Searched again.
"child fever starting to sweat"
An answer popped up.
The body was beginning to lower its temperature.
A normal response.
Good.
---
I turned back to Yuna.
She shifted slightly.
Uncomfortable.
The blanket was getting too warm.
I pulled it down a little.
Not all the way.
Just enough for ventilation.
Efficiency.
"...cold..."
"Hold on."
I adjusted it again.
Not too exposed.
Not too covered.
She stopped moving.
Her breathing was still fast.
But not as heavy as this morning.
I grabbed the glass of water.
Touched her shoulder.
"Drink."
She didn’t respond.
---
I lifted her head slightly.
Easier this ti.
She slowly opened her mouth.
Took a small sip.
More than before.
Good.
I lowered her back down.
The sweat was more visible now.
On her forehead.
On her neck.
At the tips of her hair.
I grabbed a small towel.
Wiped her gently.
She scrunched her face slightly.
"...Papa..."
"Hm."
"...I sll..."
"No."
She fell silent.
Her eyes remained closed.
But her shoulders relaxed a little.
This child overthinks too much.
That was my only thought about her.
---
I stood up.
Headed to the kitchen.
Grabbed the fever-reducing dicine.
Looked at the label.
Children’s dosage.
I read it a few tis.
Adjusted it for her weight.
She was lighter than average.
A small dose. Smaller ant safer.
I poured out a small amount.
---
Returned to the futon.
"Drink this."
She opened her eyes slightly.
Looked at the spoon.
Didn’t refuse imdiately.
Just hesitated.
"...bitter?"
"A little."
She was quiet.
For a few seconds.
Then opened her mouth.
I fed it to her slowly.
She swallowed.
Her face contorted slightly.
But she didn’t protest.
I imdiately gave her water.
She drank.
A lot more this ti.
Then stopped.
Her head returned to the pillow.
Her breathing was still fast.
But no longer erratic.
I sat down again.
In the sa spot.
Took the towel.
---
Wiped the sweat from her temples.
Then replaced the cloth on her forehead.
The clock read 09:12.
Midday was approaching.
And for the first ti since morning—
her condition wasn’t worsening.
---
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