Hello, you. (2)

GRACE

I barged into her room and my frightened self became more scared when my sight fell on the irregular rising and falling of the girl’s chest, her breathing crazily filling the room with loud, struggling sounds.

“Ruby! Ruby! Wake up!” She responded to my call with a sleepy voice but her hard breathing still wouldn’t stop. As I made her sit up, David’s concerned words blared from the call. “Ruby, you need to wake up. Open your eyes, Ruby.” My worry grew by the second as I tapped her cheeks lightly to wake her up.

“David, she won’t stop breathing hard.” My voice shivered with distress. “What should I do?”

His voice echoed from the phone. ‘Hmm. Okay. Sit her up first. Sit her up.’

“She is sitting up. She is.” I hugged the girl to my chest and adjusted her position after I grabbed her pillow to support her back.

Amid my attempt to get her in the most comfortable position, my skin came in contact with hers and my fear grew.

“David, she is hot. Her body is...”

’Calm down, Grace. To deal