"Wake up, the party's starting!"
Miso and Caza burst into Dotty's tent, shouting enough to wake her.
"I'm coming," she grumbled, her head beneath the pillow.
Two days had passed since she arrived at the camp and, although she didn't feel anywhere near healthy, the pain was lessening after the care and concoctions of Elder Bour. But she still felt the poison like a constant shadow inside her, ready to besiege her nervous system the moment she dropped her guard. When those episodes happened, she was overcome by intolerable pain. It tore screams from her mouth and made the world around her fade away.
In those two days she had also lost a considerable amount of weight. As much as the Elder tried to encourage her to eat, she had no appetite. Each time she tried to get out of bed was more difficult.
"Bleeeurghh."
The vomit surged up her throat and splashed into the plastic container they had set beside her bed. The nausea was becoming routine. She dried her mouth with her forearm and sat up.
"Not feeling any better?" Miso asked as she looked Dotty over.
"No, but it's nothing. Don't worry about it."
"It's only been two days. You'll get there." Miso gave her the widest of smiles. "For what it's worth, I love having a new friend in the camp."
"Caza friend too," Caza added, pointing to his chest. He held his spear in his hands and watched the two girls from the doorway with those tiny dark eyes in the middle of that huge face.
"Thanks… of course, you're both my friends. But I don't want to give you any illusions." Dotty gave a half smile. "I probably won't be around long enough to enjoy your friendship. This virus is bullshit."
"She said 'shit'" said Caza, with a conspiratorial look at Miso.
"Don't say that," Miso whispered.
"Don't say what?" Dotty stood up and tied the chord at the waist of her trousers.
"That it won't last…" Miso looked at the floor and her voice grew even smaller.
Dotty grabbed a knife from under the bed and stuck it into her waistband. "What do you want me to say?" She stared at Miso with tears in her eyes. "I know it and everyone else knows it. It's only you that wants to keep on pretending that this virus isn't winning. It's over."
"It's too early to know." Miso's face hardened. "No one can predict it!"
Dotty grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her, maintaining eye contact the whole time. Then, in the sweetest voice she could manage, she said: "Miso, beautiful Miso. That's what your mother told me. There's only a one in three hundred chance I live through this. Whatever happens, I'm glad to have made it this far and glad to have met you." She glanced over to Caza. "You too, Melon Head. What more could I ask for? I've already doubled the number of friends I had on Earth."
A single droplet ran down Miso's cheek, as much as she did her best to hide her sobbing. Dotty dried it with her finger.
"It's so good to have you here," said Miso. "I don't want you to go. You have to stay with us. This is your home now."
"Come on, don't cry." Dotty enfolded the girl in her arms. "What were you saying about a party? I'm starving and I can't wait to see how bad your Dad and Bour are at dancing!"
Miso dried her eyes with the sleeve of her kimono and smiled.
"Dad, dancing? I can't imagine that ever happening." She stretched out her hand. "Come on, I'll lead you."