Miira's Icky Days

As the months grow colder and winter approaches, so does the dreaded flu season. For Miira, it’s a challenging time. Year after year, she regularly gets sick despite being born and raised in the coldest region known to Dextroluma. Miira cursed her body for its poor immune system when she felt the familiar symptoms of her yearly cold: an itchy throat, heat flashes, a runny nose—and that was only the beginning.

Miira fondly harkens back to when she was young, her mother and older siblings taking care of her when she was at her sickest. Her mother’s soft voice would soothe her as she laid in bed, singing Miira’s favorite songs to lull her, wrapped up in warm blankets, the soft glow of bioluminescent crystals casting gentle patterns on the walls. Back then, her siblings would bring her herbal teas made from the shimmering mushrooms that were imported from other regions. She could still remember the tangy, slightly sweet taste that eased her throat and made her drowsy enough to forget how miserable she felt.

Now that she was on her own, Miira tried to recreate those remedies herself, but it was never quite the same. She'd spend hours brewing the herbal concoctions she remembered, only to end up with a bitter mess that lacked her mother’s loving touch. Stubborn as she was, Miira rarely sought out her mother’s advice, insisting on toughing it out herself and being independant. She'd bundle up in thick layers, forcing herself to go about her day until the sickness forced her back into bed. With her teeth chattering and nose running, she would sip her imperfect brews, longing for the comfort of her family. In those moments, the cold of winter seemed to seep deeper into her bones, reminding her that no matter how tough she tried to be, sometimes, she just needed a little warmth from someone else.