When my body gave up
It happened quietly at first. A headache that refused to leave. A weakness that sat in my bones. A tiredness sleep could not fix. I ignored it. I always did. There were groceries to sell, Dora to care for, school runs to make. Being sick felt like a luxury I could not afford. So I pushed myself—until my body pushed back harder. One morning, I couldn’t stand. The room spun when I tried to rise from bed. My legs trembled, my vision blurred, and a cold sweat soaked my skin. Dora stood beside me, her small face filled with fear. “Mama?” she called softly. “Are you okay?” I wanted to say yes. I always said yes. But my mouth couldn’t lie this time. I became very sick. Days passed, and I couldn’t go out. The shop stayed closed. The world shrank to the size of my bed. Dora tried to he
- Writer
