Point

ed with

tared through the window at the dimly lit street below. The rain had

rame was curled tighter than usual. He coughed again-harder t

, my voice cracking a

ed. He was shivering violently despite

ok him gently.

ed, teeth chattering. "B

ng up. A fever like fire. I could feel the heat radiatin

panic rising like bile in my thr

hold his tiny body still as he began to shake

ured, his voice fading

r a single consultation, let alone the tests. The free clinic closed hours ago, and the only n

ing to the door, banging on it, ho

noth

haunting echo of my own voice in t

cked up. The few neighbors we had were either too far, too drunk, or too exhau

av's side. He was crying now, quietly, his fists

d, stroking his damp ha

lthy. Boiled water. Made sure he ate before me. Gave him every l

y

properly before wearing it again. I'd been too tired to notice. Too distracted b

hed me lik

ble to keep my voice from cracking. "Just st

s forehead, trying to reduce the fever. It dried wi

hook. Still

d that shattered a sister's heart. I bit do

fall apar

of our parents. Of the time Papa took us to the zoo and Raghav cried because the lion r

tly in his sle

urmured, brushing sweat from

ached. My eyes burned from tears

dn't

mething happened to him-I

hadn't broken, but he was breathing more evenly now.

he m

ht here,

am... You we

ed, kissing his kn

nothing-no medicine, no doctor, no mon

pro

way. That I wouldn

I had to beg, even if I had to clean ten more

he had. And he w

window, I sat there holding his hand, my other hand s

ken. Shaki

eterm

d made it thr

ed back and his small bo

amed, shaking him. "Ra

nic slammed into my chest like a truck. My th

a door cr

ext room. He took one look at Raghav and didn't ask qu

racing down the nearly empty roads, the car bouncing over potholes.

ot moving!" I cried. "O

an said sharply. "He's alive. K

with me. You hear me?

ce was louder

ital's emergency entrance, the doors

th

ack. We need t

rom my arms-and h