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The morning sun shines through the window and illuminates Kai as his thoughts race.
Nya has been sick for days now. Kai had tried everything and he didn't know what to do. He couldn't let his baby sister die, he’s supposed to take care of her, he has to take care of her, without her he’ll won’t be alive anymore, Nya is why is he lives, why he gets up in the morning-
A heavy series of coughs from across the room interrupts Kai’s panic. He rips the thin blanket off of him (more like a sheet), and darts across the room to the little cot. His deep brown eyes landed onto Nya, her cobalt blue eyes reddened and her face was a pale shade of pea green.
Kai’s heart begins to ache. He gingerly puts one of his fingers onto her head and immediately retracts it. Her head is hotter than the flames in the forge downstairs, and beads of sweat are running down her body.
He runs down the stairs and picks up the bucket they use to collect water from the creek and stumbles out of the house. He doesn't stop running, even as he trips and stumbles, guilt running through his mind.
When he finally reaches the ice cold creek, Kai could have collapsed from exhaustion. But he doesn't.
He pulls the bucket into the creek, the pull of the water momentarily shocks him. The metal bucket fills slowly, water spilling over the sides as Kai clumsily holds it in place. The moment the bucket is filled to the top, Kai starts back home.
His legs burn and his arms feel weak. But he can’t stop. He has to get back to Nya. He needs to get back to Nya.
After what feels like forever, (but was really only 20 minutes) Kai finally reaches it back home. He lugs the bucket to their room, little drops of water splashing onto Kai. When the ice-cold water grazes Kai’s skin, he flinches and moves on.
He keeps going until he reaches the room he and Nya shared. He gently opens the door, careful not to wake Nya from her slumber. As he gingerly walks into the room, he picks up a piece of cloth and dips it into the ice water.
He brings the cloth to Nya’s forehead, and she shudders from the contact.
When the cloth dries, he dips the cloth into the bucket again.
He repeats this, over and over for the rest of the day only taking breaks to get Nya to eat something, anything.
By the time Nya’s forehead cools down, the stars are twinkling from the window.
Kai exhales, letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
He starts to move back to the blanket he calls a bed, when he hears Nya’s voice: small and cracked but he hears it clear as day. “Kai, stay with me.”
Kai smiles and walks back and ruffles Nya’s hair, “I’m never going to leave. You’re stuck with me.”
Nya strains her voice, “P-Promise?” She holds out her pinky to Kai who interlocks it with his own, “Promise.”
Kai ended up sleeping next to Nya that night. He pretended to hate it, but he didn't. Nya knows this.