Daulet

the noise from below was irritating. laughter, toasts, music - they thundered like mockery of the child's helplessness. I glanced at the boy lying on the bed. his cheeks were burning, his breathing was heavy, the sheet beneath him was soaked with sweat. the temperature had risen again, despite all my efforts to bring it down. I carefully removed the damp towel from his face, dipped him in a bowl of cold water and wrung him out, trying not to think about the fact that his parents hadn't even looked in. I used to think that this job was just a contractor...but now I feel like an older brother to this child.

::lyalya poplar