Chapter 31: Colleague (1)
Clatter.
I woke up to the sound of the train wheels clattering as they rolled along the tracks. I must have dozed off under the influence of the medicine. I recalled Liam Moore handing me a small spoonful of a potion.
“It’s a painkiller,” he had said in his strict, doctor-like manner, which I found both amusing and endearing. I had followed his advice, partly because I was exhausted. I thought that if I struggled enough, I would be able to return home, but there was no sign of that happening despite my extended stay here.
How long would I be trapped here? Would I ever get home? What if I grew old and died here? I wanted to be home before the New Year. It was almost December. Soon, it would be the New Year. You can’t imagine how terrifying it is to celebrate ‘another year’ in a foreign land, as someone else.
I blinked a few times. The medicine was effective. The pain that had battered my body had dulled into a mild, unpleasant sensation that no longer affected me. Thank goodness. If I had been in pain with every breath, I might have truly wanted to die. The only downside was that even death wouldn’t free me from this place.
When I opened my eyes, my mind was foggy. Though my body was sluggish, my mind quickly cleared. Seeing my refreshed face, Liam’s expression softened. He reached out and touched my forehead. His hand was warm, feeling so real that it made me shiver. It felt unsettling.
“I’m fine,” I mumbled, pulling my head away.
“You still have a slight fever. Your body seems to be in shock,” he said.
“People’s body temperature is supposed to be warm.”