The Sickness Explained

The chill of the morning air did little to cool the frantic beat of my heart. I’d been so focused on the ‘screen hurt,’ the blinding white that erased words and thoughts, and the terrifying sickness that followed, that I’d almost missed the other part of the reporter’s frantic announcement. Almost. But the tremor in my hand as I clutched my notepad, the way the words on the page seemed to swim, had been a chilling prelude. It wasn’t just *my* eyes that felt strange; it was the lingering unease from seeing Kelly, the way my vision had shimmered and my head had throbbed. And the reporter had said, "day 10 makes you have pink eye and throw up." It wasn't just an immediate effect, but a delayed one.

Elder Elara’s cottage was nestled deep in the Whispering Woods, a place that always hummed with a life all its own. Sunlight dappled through the ancient trees, painting shifting patterns on the mossy ground. I’d come here seeking answers, the kind that couldn’t be found in hastily scribbled news reports or panicked whispers. Elder Elara, her face a roadmap of gentle smiles and wisdom, greeted me with a knowing nod. Her eyes, the color of a clear forest stream, seemed to see right through my hurried explanations.

“You’ve seen Kelly, child,” she stated, her voice soft as falling leaves. It wasn’t a question.