Difficulties Abound

The electric lamp cast a wavering, earthy halo across the mottled walls, stretching Anna's hunched figure into trembling mountains.

Her knobby hands were immersed in the cool water of an enamel basin, washing a clean towel.

On the bed, Monica breathed hotly like a bellows. Her flushed cheeks sank into the linen pillow, cold sweat beading on her forehead.

"God..."

Anna pressed her palm to Monica's forehead, instantly feeling the heat.

She wrung out the wet towel and laid it on the sweating girl's forehead as a cold compress.

In the dim yellow light, Monica's eyelashes trembled like those of a dying butterfly, and from between her lips spilled...