Sickness

     Every sick child's nightmare is that they will have no one around to take care of them, especially their mother. For a sick exchange student, that nightmare is reality. I lived that for two short days earlier this week when I was not feeling good. It was not a horrible sickness, just a bad headache, sore throat and overall not feeling well, but it was enough to keep me from school on Monday.
     Sunday I was not feeling well, and when I woke up Monday morning, I was not fit to go to school. Sophie and her mom were very kind and helpful, giving me throat lozenges, water, free use of the kitchen, and anything else I might need. But Sophie had to go to school, and Patricia had to leave for the day as well, so I was stuck alone in the house, which was not really a bad thing, just different.
     First, I crawled into bed and slept for three solid hours. But when I woke up, I had exhausted my supply of water, so I had to go back downstairs and get some more. I was also hungry so I got myself a yogurt. That was the pattern throughout the day. Lay in bed for a few hours, doing pretty much nothing but reading and listening to music, and then trudge back downstairs for more water. Normally, when I'm sick, I have a mother who is there for me, and even when she isn't in the house, she has given me strict instructions on what to do and not to do, and has supplied me with enough water to last me three days right next to my bed. I would not have to leave my bed for anything other than going to the bathroom, or hunger for something other than what she has left me. I've always taken it for granted, but not anymore. Sunday night, I didn't sleep well, tossing and turning, sometimes too hot, sometimes too cold. I tried to stay quiet so as not to bother anyone, and the whole time, all I really wanted was a mother to hold me in her arms and tell me it was okay, that I would be fine, and she would take care of me. To stay by my side until I had fallen sound asleep for the rest of the night. So this post goes to you mommy, and to all mothers. Thank you for always being there to care for us in our low times, and even when you cannot be there in person, the memory of those moments brings comfort.