Content warning: Mentions of drug abuse
It was very early in the morning when Joe woke up to harsh, phlegmy coughing from the other room. Concerned, he pulled himself out of bed and went to Katrina's room.
When Katrina saw her father, she reached up to him. "Daddy, I don' feel good."
Joe picked his daughter up, and realised that she felt warm to the touch. His heart was starting to pound. He went to the bathroom and opened the medicine cabinet, but they were out of children's cold pills. He felt cold as Katrina leaned on his shoulder.
Alright, so he was going to have to go out and get some medicine. At two o'clock in the morning. In the cold March rains. He thanked his lucky stars that the pharmacy was open 24 hours. He pulled his coat on, bundled Katrina into hers, and set off.
You can see some weird things working the night shift. So weird, in fact, that a rando coming in soaking wet carrying a toddler is extremely normal by comparison.
The cashier looked up. "Can I help you?"
"Oui," mumbled Joe, still trembling from the cold rain. "J'ai besoin d'une médecine pour ma fille. Elle est malade." (Yes. I need medicine for my daughter. She's sick.)
The cashier looked a little suspicious. Joe suspected that this pharmacy must get a lot of drug seekers in the middle of the night. "What are your daughter's symptoms?" He asked.
"Elle a un fievre," said Joe, straightening his back, "et un tousse." (She has a fever and a cough.)
The cashier's expression softened. He must have been realising that Joe really was looking for medicine for his daughter, not for himself to abuse. "Along that wall. Soti-Kids is probably your best bet."
Joe looked for the name, and picked up two packets. He paid his dues, sincerely thanked the cashier, and went on his way. By the time he got home, he was so exhausted that he laid down on the couch with Katrina laying on his chest and fell asleep almost instantly.
The next morning, Joe woke up feeling cold and groggy. He must have caught a chill from going out last night.
He patted Katrina's back to wake her. "Tu as besoin de ta médecine." (You need your medicine.) Katrina rubbed her eyes and sat up, and Joe gave her two pills with some water, as directed on the back of the packet.
Katrina heard her father sniffle, and looked up. "Daddy, you need medicines too?"
"Oui," mumbled Joe. "Papa ne se sent pas bien non plus. Je vais prendre mon medicine aussi." (Daddy doesn't feel good either. I'm gonna take my medicine too.) He started up the stairs.
"Daddy, medicine's right here." Katrina held up the packet.
"Oui, mais ca c'est ton medicine," said Joe, a bit hoarse. "J'ai besoin le medicine des adultes, et ca c'est en haute." (Yes, but that's your medicine. I need adult medicine, and that's upstairs.)
After taking his medicine, Joe picked up the blanket off his bed and went back downstairs. Katrina had put the TV on and was watching a cartoon. Joe picked her up and bundled the both of them into the blanket. Katrina nuzzled up to her father and laid her head down, where she could hear the gentle beating of his heart.
