CHAPTER 32

Jessica woke up at the earliest hour of the morning.

Even Ms Felicia, the early-rising neighbor wasn't up by this time.

With a start, her body was racked with chills. A dull ache panged behind her eyes, and her throat felt like sandpaper.

She was burning up.

She threw her legs over the edge of the bed and groaned, only to feel a rush of vertigo hit her.

She stumbled to the restroom, looking like a pale, thin parody of herself in the mirror.

Her eyes were bloodshot and her skin flushed.

It was clear she was coming down with something serious.

Her health deteriorated further throughout the morning.

She felt weak and confused, her muscles aching, her coughing unabated, and her temperature seeming to go higher by the minute.

She was hardly able to function by the light of the early sun.

Just the night before, Ann had sensed her distress and insisted on staying the night. Jessica, too weak to argue, reluctantly agreed.

Now she was shivering uncontrollably, and her breathing became labor