"Elsa?! What happened?!"

Vomit number seven was her response.

"Wow! Nasty! So miss "I don't get sick" can also fall, huh?"
"Don't complain! Not so long ago I was cleaning yours."
"Not complaining. I just can't stop hearing the echo of your voice telling me over and over that I should eat better like you so as not to get sick."
"And if you listened to me, you wouldn't have caught it and you wouldn't give it to me."
"We should take her to bed…" I interrupted that absurd sibling fight hoping that both would realize that that wasn't the time.
"You're right… uh… Who are you, again?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Kristoff, Elsa's college classmate."
"You are Kristoff?! The famous Kristoff?"
"Err… I didn't think I was that famous, actually."
"I'm Anna."
"I know. Elsa talks a lot about you."
"Yes, and I'm still here dying, you know?"
"Oh, right! Come in!"

Anna guided me through the interior of the house until we reached Elsa's room, whose door opened wide inviting me to pass without thinking about the way in which we were breaking her privacy. Trying not to look around too much, I carefully laid Elsa on her bed and covered her up to the waist with the sheet.

"I'm cold."
"You got a fever," I said without getting why she didn't understand something so obvious.
"Cover me with the duvet."
"No way."
"What?! Why?!"
"Because you have a fever; I just said it."
"But I am cold!"
"I thought the cold never bothered you…"
"It does today."
"Well, you'll have to endure."

Then I turned to Anna who was waiting wide-eyed in the doorway.

"Bring a couple of washbowls. One empty and one with cold water and some cloths."
"Excuse me, but I think I can manage without having anyone come and tell me what to do, you know?"
"And a thermometer."
"Did you even hear me?"
"Yes, and I don't see you move."

Anna grunted and disappeared through the door, returning a few minutes later with everything I'd asked for.

"Fine. Now put her on a clean pajama, but not too warm. And then take her temperature and, if it exceeds 38º C, put the wet cloths on her forehead and neck."
"In the neck?! So mean!"
"You want her fever to drop, right?"
"And… then?"
"Well, the logical thing to do. When the cloths get heated, you cool them with the water and put them back on. And, if the temperature exceeds 39º C, maybe you should call the doctor. You won't have serum, will you?"
"Serum?"
"Yeah, rehydration serum."
"I think there was something left from when I caught it."
"Great. Then get it ready for when it may be needed. And don't forget to leave the empty bowl nearby in case she needs it."
"Yes, Sir!"
"Okay, I'm leaving, then. Take care."
"Wait, what?!"
"What?"
"What do you mean you are leaving?! You'll leave me alone?!"
"Weren't you saying you can handle it?" I replied with a smirk.
"What if she falls? What if she throws up and I need to shower and have someone take care of her in the meantime? What if she dies and I get left on my own?!"
"Hey!" Elsa protested from the bed making a supreme effort.
"Calm down, I don't think she's gonna die for this," I answered laughing.
"Hey… I know you probably have better things to do than stay here and catch a disgusting virus, but… I've never had to take care of anyone, you know? I'm always the one who falls ill. Couldn't you stay at least until she falls asleep?"

Her pleading eyes caught me off guard. A moment before she was complaining that I told her what to do and, immediately after, she was begging me to stay in case she didn't know how to do it… I had never had a problem rejecting anyone, but something inside me told me that I would regret it all my life if left her alone. I looked at Elsa for confirmation and was met with a mocking smile, that I couldn't understand, and her nod.

" ´kay," I said suddenly feeling myself deflate.
"Thank you!"

Anna jumped into my arms breaking with all social constructs and, as she reached them, she left leaving an immense and unexpected void.

"Get comfortable and make yourself at home, okay? I'm going to take care of the sick girl."

I nodded and left that room overwhelmed by the heat that was devouring my ears. What was wrong with that girl? Who had such energy at that time of the night and a few days after suffering a gastroenteritis?

I walked somewhat lost to the living room and sat somewhat tense on that huge couch as I watched the snow fall more and more intensely through the window to my right. I would have turned on the TV to better endure the long and silent minutes in that empty room, but I didn't want to disturb Elsa's rest and I didn't feel confident enough to do so, so, without realizing how it happened, I soon fell in a needy sleep.