"What?" he asked, for the third time.
The first sign was the silence. Not a true silence, but a muffled one, like the world had been packed in cotton wool. Alex woke up feeling like his head was a over-inflated balloon, tethered to the pillow by a thick, throbbing cord. The cold had arrived overnight, a sneaky invader that left a trail of scratchy throat and exhausted limbs. ears stuffy from cold
"He. Loves. You. And. So. Do. I. It. Will. Pass." Alex woke up feeling like his head was
Alex saw the flash of red construction paper. He saw the enthusiastic, slightly crooked drawing of a triangle with fire coming out the bottom. He saw his son's proud, expectant face. But the boy's voice was a tiny, faraway squeak, like a mouse on a microphone. He leaned into it
Sarah sighed, a soft hiss he felt more than heard. She pointed to the tea, then mimed drinking, then placed a hand on his forehead. Her touch was cool and wonderful. He leaned into it, desperate for a connection that didn't require translation.