was　light　outside　my　window。

I　didn't　remember　moving；　Charlie　must　have　carried　me　to　my　room—he'd　also

put　the　glass　of　water　on

my　bedside　table。　I　felt　parched。　I　chugged　it　down；　though　it　tasted　funny

from　sitting　stagnant　all　night。

I　got　up　slowly；　trying　not　to　trigger　the　nausea　again。　I　was　weak；　and　my

mouth　tasted　horrible；　but　my

stomach　felt　fine。　I　looked　at　my　clock。

My　twenty…four　hours　were　up。

I　didn't　push　it；　eating　nothing　but　saltine　crackers　for　breakfast。　Charlie

looked　relieved　to　see　me

recovered。

As　soon　as　I　was　sure　that　I　wasn't　going　to　have　to　spend　the　day　on　the

bathroom　floor　again；　I　called

Jacob。

Jacob　was　the　one　who　answered；　but　when　I　heard　his　greeting　I　knew　he　wasn't

over　it。

〃Hello？〃　His　voice　was　broken；　cracking。

〃Oh；　Jake；〃　I　groaned　sympathetically。　〃You　sound　horrible。〃

〃I　feel　horrible；〃　he　whispered。

〃I'm　so　sorry　I　made　you　go　out　with　me。　This　sucks。〃

〃I'm　glad　I　went。〃　His　voice　was　still　a　whisper。　〃Don't　blame　yourself。　This

isn't　your　fault。〃

〃You'll　get　better　soon；〃　I　promised。　〃I　woke　up　this　morning；　and　I　was

fine。〃

〃You　were　sick？〃　he　asked　dully。

〃Yes；　I　got　it；　too。　But　I'm　fine　now。〃

〃That's　good。〃　His　voice　was　dead。

〃So　you'll　probably　be　better　in　a　few　hours；〃　I　encouraged。

I　could　barely　hear　his　answer。　〃I　don't　think　I　have　the　same　thing　you　did。〃

〃Don't　you　have　the　stomach　flu？〃　I　asked；　confused。

〃No。　This　is　something　else。〃

〃What's　wrong　with　you？〃

〃Everything；〃　he　whispered。　〃Every　part　of　me　hurts。〃

The　pain　in　his　voice　was　nearly　tangible。

〃