I let Ly Giai go in and collect the empty bowl. We then returned to the doctor's tent to report.
"The male patients didn't let me clean them, but they did drink the medicine," I said.
The doctor nodded while still reading his medical book. "More than I expected. I thought they wouldn't even drink the medicine."
"It took some convincing," I said and looked at Ly Giai. "And encouragement."
We smiled at each other, but the doctor didn't seem to notice it.
"Is there anything else for us to do?" Ly Giai asked next.
He shook his head. "You've done enough for today. Return and rest well. Don't let yourself get sick. We will continue moving to the capital early morning."
"Okay," we both replied.
I noticed that he looked kind of grumpy, so I asked, "Any progress on Si's symptoms?"
"No," he sighed and frowned. "I'm still looking."
After some more exchanges, Ly Giai and I left. We went back to the old leader and he had prepared two extra tents for us when we returned.
"A man and a woman shouldn't be in the same tent at night unless they are married. I don't need to tell you two this right?" he didn't even let us respond.
"Well... good night Ly Giai," I said.
"You too, Do," she said back.
I went to my tent. It was very simple, with only leaves tied together for bed and blanket. For the past weeks, Ly Giai, Si and I only had each other to keep warm during the cruel nights' chill. To have this in this kind of bed is a luxury. I couldn't ask for more.
I lay down and immediately fell asleep.
Once again, I dreamt. The strange girl that appeared in my previous dreams kept showing up.
"Do! Come here with me!" she called me.
We were in what seemed like the middle of a night festival. The girl, still wearing the light green dress in the previous dream, took me through cart after cart of the festival, buying so much food and gifts.
"** ***! Please stop! My hands couldn't carry any more stuff!" I cried to her. For some reason, I couldn't hear her name."
The girl only then realized that my hands were full, so she carried some of the stuff so that I had an easier time. "Ha ha Sorry Do. I was too excited."
I smiled at her happy face. "It's fine. As long as you are happy."
Almost immediately, a cart caught her eyes and she flew to it, "Woah! Look at that! I want it!"
"Hey!" I tried to complain, but she was already far away. Gave up, I just shook my head and followed her.
The dream suddenly changed when we already left the festival place. The streets were dark and narrow. With only the light I was carrying to be able to see things.
"** ***! Where are you!?" I shouted while running everywhere, trying to find the girl. "** ***!" I kept calling and calling, but no one ever responded.
The dreaded and desperate feeling grew more and more as each step my feet took. I kept running through the streets, turning at each corner hoping to see her then. But every time, only darkness welcomed my presence.
The more time went by, I felt as if the streets had become narrower and narrower. At the corners where the eyes wouldn't look, a dark aura seeped to the surface, slowly covering everything. In a short time, even the air was completely suffocated by it.
My steps slowed bit by bit as it was becoming harder to look ahead and breathe. But I still didn't give up trying to find the girl.
My body slowly crumbled until I was lying on the ground, slowly being swallowed by the darkness.
My eyes wide opened. Looking around, I became calmed after remembering this was reality.
I let out a huge sigh of relief while standing up and preparing for a new day. My back was full of sweat even though it was bone-chillingly cold at night. After changing to a new shirt, I stepped out of the tent. Next to me, Ly Giai also tiredly stepped out. She stretched with her messy hair.
"Good morning, Ly Giai," I greeted.
"Morning Do," she returned satisfyingly after the stretch. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah," I lied. "I felt like I only lie down for a minute before waking up."
"Me too," she smiled. She then looked around and said. "We have to start packing things up and continue moving."
After some cold water to fully wake me up and some self-talk to put the dream at the back of my mind, I quickly had a small piece of bread and dried meat given by the old man. I then disabled my tent and helped Ly Giai with hers.
We then went to the doctor and helped him move Si and the other patients with self-made carts using the woods nearby.
When everyone grouped up and was ready to move, the old leader stood in the front. "We are only three more days before reaching the capital! Keep yourself warm and hydrated! We will all overcome this harsh time!"
"OH!" the crowd rallied.
During the travel, I was responsible for Si's cart, letting Ly Giai, the doctor, and other patients' family members deal with the other patients.
As expected, the people from South City and villagers avoid walking near me. I would often feel unfriendly gazes on me too, something that I have become familiar with.
During the mid-day, something great happened. Si was conscious.