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It's odd that you can get so anesthetized by your own pain or your own problem that you don't quite fully share the hell of someone close to you.
Lady Bird Johnson
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was crawling on my hands and knees in the scorching sand. The sun was merciless, its rays penetrating through my clothes and burning my skin. "Water," I whispered. My mouth had turned into parchment. The saline beads of sweat found their way into the corner of my mouth. I ran my tongue across my lips and discovered the droplets only increased my thirst. My mind started a downward spiral, and it wasn't long before hallucination and reality swirled together. 'God I'm tired. And it would be so easy to just fall asleep.' I lost control and felt myself falling. I screamed and tried to grasp onto something. Anything...

My eyes opened, and I instinctively attempted to jerk into a sitting position, screaming bloody murder. I was met by the forceful resistance of the medical restraints. "I'm gonna be feeling that tomorrow," I groaned. My throat was sore, and my mouth was dry, not to mention the fact that my skin felt like it had become living fire. I glanced at my arms and remembered the Perseid Fever. How long did Trance say this was going to last again?

"Harper, what's wrong?" Trance ran in from an adjoining room.

"I need water. And untie me for heaven's sake! I don't think I'm even able to stand up now."

"Promise me you won't even try to leave first."

"Whatever you say."

She sighed and released the restraints. I threw the sweat soaked blue medical blanket onto the floor. The cool air was refreshing. I glanced across the room. Someone was in critical condition. Trance only uses that much equipment when there's a low chance of survival. I couldn't see the bed's occupant, though.

Trance returned with a large glass of water. I grabbed it from her like it was the last glass of water in the galaxy and finished it in two gulps. It burned when I swallowed, but was well worth the pain. It wasn't worth the nausea, though, but that would go away. Eventually.

"Thanks. When do I get out of here?" I pushed myself up to sit up against the wall behind me.

"It depends on how quickly you heal. If all goes well, maybe two or three days."

"That's too long." I decided to stop complaining and change the subject. "What happened?" I gestured at the bed across the room I had been watching earlier.

"An intruder...appeared...a few hours ago. She's degrading and mutating on the cellular level. Things aren't looking good for her right now." Trance seemed extremely upset over this.

"Well, I'm sure she'll be all right. She's got the best doctor in the galaxy." I smiled at Trance. She was my best friend, probably the best friend I've ever had. I owed her at least a smile or two for all the times she'd been there for me in the short time we'd known each other.

A weak smile appeared on her face for a moment before she became somber again. "Harper..."

"The one and only." I smiled again. Smiling required a lot more energy than I realized, and I had to slide back down to a laying position.

"Never mind. Are you hungry?" Her eyes were trained on the floor.

"What's wrong, Trance?" She was hiding something. Actually, she was hiding a lot of things, but her mystery is part of her charm. This was different, though. I could feel it. Intuition, I guess.

"Nothing. I'm going down to the Mess Deck, and I want to know if you would like anything while I'm down there." She was obviously feigning a smile. I wouldn't push her anymore now. If it was really important, she would tell me when she was ready.

"Coffee. And something I'll be able to swallow without it setting my throat on fire."

"No coffee, but I'll get you something. I'll be back in a couple of minutes." She walked out of the room. Her tail was still and pointed forward. From what I'd seen, that was her body language for on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

'It must be her new patient,' I thought, sighing and forcing myself onto my feet. Slowly, I managed to walk over to the bed of the very ill intruder. Her face was partially covered. When I turned her head to face me, I nearly lost my balance and fell. Before I knew what was happening, the tears welled up in my eyes. 'It has to be a fever induced delusion. There's no possible way.'