Chapter 41

(Renata Pellegrini)

"Don't come close, get out! No please, stop, stop, STOP!" Filippo shouts, making me wake up scared. I turn on the light of the lamp beside me. "No dad, please, it hurts, stop!" Filippo whispers in a voice choked by crying.

I look at his sweaty face, his frightened look, Filippo begins to stir in bed, his arms all the time covering his face and chest, as if he is trying to protect himself from something. My heart squeezes, he is crying while having the nightmare.

"Please stop!" He keeps shouting. "Leave my brothers alone, I'm to blame!"

"The fever is making him delirious." - I think as I get up, I go to the nightstand next to his bed, I soak the flannel in cold water, and his pillow is soaked with sweat.

"Don't come any closer! Don't touch me!" He continues shouting, now moving his legs too.

I feel a shiver run down my spine, I've never seen him like this before, it scares me, this is the first time I've seen someone delirious with fever. I know this is normal, but