Fern sat on her bed after she felt week and tired like a rung-out rag. She had talked briefly with her friend Willow. That was strange she wondered what had brought Willow to her room she did not remember a celebration or other get together happening. Why did Willow leave so quickly she wanted to ask some questions. She could not remember how she had gotten here, why was she in bed when it looked like daylight outside. She has chores who did her chores and why did they let her sleep in so late. She thought she remembered a strange mist, but no mists are not brown. Her mind bounced around from idea to idea, but it was like trying to pick up water in your hands just when you thought you might have some it would slip through your fingers. How can my mind feel so mushy fern thought?

Why did Willow look so frightened not frightened but startled? Fern sat up and slid her legs out from under the covers. They looked thin and pale she stopped and looked at her arms and didn't recognize them or her body. All of this was scary, and she just wanted Willow to come back or her mom. She choked back a sob, why was she feeling so terrible, as she waited for the dizziness to pass and tried to stand as soon as her feet touched to floor her leg buckled and she was thrown to the floor. She waited on the floor, but everything wouldn't stop moving it would make things easier if they did. Tired of waiting and determined she tried again to stand but her legs were weak, and her head whirled, so she stayed on the floor. Before she was able to recover herself her brother Zerin came into the room, he carried a cup of water. It was so nice seeing her brother she began to cry. She didn't know why, but she felt silly crying and sitting on the floor. She tried to get up, but he hurried over and lifted her effortlessly back on the bed. Fern looked at her brother she could see tears in his eyes and a smile on his face. Fern couldn’t help but smile despite everything hurting. Zerin handed her the cup of water she shakily moved it to her mouth and took a sip. The water felt so good like a rain quenching a desert she let it pour in before she realized that swallowing was painful, and she choked. Her brother took the cup and gently helped her to lay down. She took a deep breath relieved and how good it felt.

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Zerin looked into the cup, a puzzled look on his face and said with a smirk and a tease, “Seems there were bones in the water.”

Fern laughed softly it was a lot of work just to laugh and hurt just like every other movement had so far, but it felt good.

Zerin looking worried turned to leave and said, “Rest I will get mom.” He paused and looked back at fern with a big smile, "Are you hungry?". She nodded, “I will be right back.”

Fern heard her brother leave she could hear the sound of his footsteps as they receded down the hall, from the other side of the house she heard the front door slam and the bell outside ring. The sounds seemed so loud; the bell was so loud it made her head pound. She held her hand over her ears trying to block out some of the sound. It didn't help much but the bell stopped ringing after only a few seconds. She didn't want to close her eyes her mom would come now that the bell had been rung, but they were so heavy. Closing her eyes meant she wouldn't see her brother and her mom when they came in. Her eyes growing heavier she didn't have enough strength to keep them open and they drifted closed.