In general, you had a really strong immune system. You’d never really gotten sick. Sure, when it was extremely cold outside, you’d get the sniffles. Or sometimes you’d get an upset tummy, but that was mostly from your appetite and the amount of hardcore playing you did. But having a cold, or the flu, or even just a mild fever? Nothing you’d ever experienced.

Until this morning, when you woke up in pain, without barely being able to breathe. Your nose was runny on one side and stuffed up in the other. Your eyes felt weird, your face and head hurt. Your stomach hurt, too, and your throat might have been the worst of all. You were incredibly drowsy and just felt heavy.

It wasn’t long before you started crying because of your ailments. You pushed yourself out of bed and went looking around the house for your father, hoping he knew what was wrong with you, and also how to make it better.

He is tidying up the living room when you walk in, your nose red and skin pale. He smiles first, then frowns.

“What’s the matter, pumpkin?” He asks you, setting down a throw pillow and walking over to crouch in front of you.