Malaria

I’ve been in Pakistan for 2 weeks it seems. I didn’t want to go back to Oman, where I had no family. My grandfather had died and my father was acting strange. I’ve never seen him cry before and it’s scary.  Whenever there’s a reminder of Ge papa he would howl, cry, until he had no salty tears left. In his time of need my family would surround him with a nurturing, but sad feel. When they couldn’t stand it, they would go of mourning as well. I’d hear screams of woe and sorrow which would cause my blood to run cold. I hat to get out of there but I couldn’t. I was numb with sickness, mosquitoes had swarmed all over me a few days ago and my whole body was swollen like a balloon. I didn’t like the feeling, because I lay there my ears blocked with my hands. I couldn’t toss and turn or do anything but speak. It was as if a tarantula had paralyzed its prey. I was scared.

The next day I put my hands down. They were there by my ears for at least 10 hours by my ears. I couldn’t hear any screams any more, but my temperature had risen from 60° to 72°. People came in and out all day, but we lived in a joint family in a cull-de-sac, so my cousins, aunts, uncles, even cousins-cousins, with their families came in. Just to check up on me. When it was time for my medicine- I would refuse to take it. It tasted horrid and strong like nail varnish. The doctor said I’d probably gotten food poisoning but it was deeper than that…

The next few days my temperature had started to rocket up. From 72 to 81. My whole body was numb from being so still like a statue. I couldn’t eat,, I couldn’t drink, and I couldn’t sleep or stay awake. When I ate or drank anything- I’d threw up, the taste on my tongue metallic from the vomit. When  my eyes were open- it felt like a sun burning wholes through my eyes, and when I closed them it was as if darkness was surrounding me, stealing the warmth of my ice and leaving behind ice. So I blinked constantly, and my energy would be fed to me through a tube. I smelt nothing but dust…