For the first thirty seconds, nothing happened except his glasses fogging up. He felt ridiculous—like a witch brewing a nasal potion. But then, the heat invaded his sinuses. The eucalyptus unclenched something deep in his skull. A slow, miraculous trickle of air returned to the right nostril. He inhaled again, deeper, and the left one gave a wet, rebellious pop.
Leo smiled, closed his laptop, and went back to bed. He didn't need the pharmacy spray after all. Just a bowl, a towel, and the ancient magic of steam. home remedy for nasal decongestant
He stayed under the towel for ten full minutes, breathing in the herbal steam, letting the warmth loosen the concrete in his face. When he finally emerged, the world smelled different. The faint scent of coffee from that morning. The cool night air from the cracked window. He took a long, silent breath through his nose—both nostrils working, like old friends shaking hands. For the first thirty seconds, nothing happened except