Dinner was uneventful, as was the rest of the day. Naomi decided to take a cold bath before bed, with how sweaty she was. Sitting in bed, Naomi took out her MacBook and searched up: Recurring dreams. What she got was mostly sayings things like: Recurring dreams may allow the mind to make sense of past painful experiences, or they may provide a sort of practice scenario so that the dreamer can rehearse their reaction to a threat. Recurring dreams may also prompt a person to face and process a problem in their life. Naomi rolled her eyes. She was pretty sure she was never in a fire (Her house didn't even have a real fireplace) and she couldn't think of anything that might cause her to be in one. Trying again, Naomi filed this information away. Creating a new tab, Naomi started to type: What does d- 

"Wait a moment," Naomi blurted out loud, "Why are my hands trembling?" 

She was confused as usually she had good control of things like this in her body. Looking down her arm, she could see goosebumps forming. 

Was the bath a little too cold?

Pulling up the blanket, Naomi finished typing what does a door represent in a nightmare? The results of this was also not what Naomi was looking for. Doors are perceived as a limit, a transition to the next stage, but it can be both moving forward and step back. Closed doors in the dream symbolize obstacles, challenges, disturbances, misfortunes, and widely opened – hospitality, success, easily achieved result. Naomi sighed. Both of the answers didn't apply to her at all! 

Whatever.

Closing the MacBook, Naomi went to sleep. 

Unsurprisingly, the nightmare came to haunt her again. This time, Naomi made sure to pay attention to everything. Unlike in most dreams, Naomi felt usually clear-headed and sharp. 

The door was closed, Naomi recounted, But it's still coming closer. I'll give it a week, tops, before it's right behind me. 

Naomi tried to recall how the door looked like, however, whenever she tried to remember, all she could think of was a blurry figure she was sure was a door. With that happy thought in mind, Naomi took her daily shower. Naomi groaned as she dressed up for school. 

For some reason, I feel even more hot and sore. 

This did not go unnoticed by Hayley. 

"Back to bed," she chided, "I'll tell your parents as well as the school you have a cold."

 Naomi obediently trudged back to bed. 

The rest of the day was boring, with Naomi just staying in bed, either reading or video-calling Selina. The only times Hayley let her leave the bed was to go to the washroom, and luckily, Selina came over to visit her. 

"I suppose your bored?" Selina asked. 

"Of course," Naomi groaned, "I feel like a prisoner." 

"Great!" Selina had a sly look, "Here's your homework."

 Studying Selina's face, Naomi laughed, "Good try." 

Flipping through the papers, Naomi gave Selina her half. 

"Ugh," Selina pouted, "What's the point of having a smart friend if she wouldn't even help her poor friend do some homework?"

 "I did! Once." Naomi poked Selina, "Mrs. Taylor found out in around 5 seconds." 

Selina shuddered, probably remembering the intense scolding that came with it. 

“How was school?” Naomi changed the topic and scanned through the papers.

 “Depressing.” Selina grumbled, “We got our test scores back. I only got 78%.” 

“You’ll be fine,” Naomi reassured, “do you know what I got?” 

“Err”, Selina hesitated, “I don’t know actually….you know what? I don’t even recall hearing him call your name…” 

“You probably just forgot,” Naomi teased, ignoring her bad gut feeling.

 "Alas, that’s most likely true" Selina dramatically sighed, "Anyways, I have to go now. Get better soon!" 

Naomi waved goodbye, "See you!" Unlike what Selina had said, her fever did not get better. In fact, it seemed to have gotten worse. By the 3rd day, Naomi discovered a blister on her arm. Every time she moved, it felt as if she was on fire.

"Are you ok?" 

Hearing the familiar voice, Naomi perked up. 

"Selina?" 

"The one and only!" Selina proclaimed proudly.

 "Thank goodness," Naomi grumbled, "I'm dying of boredom." 

Selina poked her, "It's too bad it isn't winter. You feel like a furnace." 

Naomi rolled her eyes. 

Selina continued poking her, "Wow, I think it made you grumpier as well." 

Finished teasing her, Selina gave her a paper bag. 

"I come bearing gifts, Ms. Anger." 

"Ms. Anger?" Naomi repeated, half amused. 

"You know! Like Anger from inside out!" Selina explained, "C'mon, open it!" 

Naomi tore it open. 

"WAIT!" Selina hurriedly snatched the bag away.

 You just told me to open it?

Naomi acted annoyed, but was actually glad that her chatty and energetic friend was here.

 "Boba!" Selina stuffed an ice-cold bottle in her arms, "Brown sugar pearls- your favorite! And extra ice." 

Even if it didn't seem like it, Naomi actually had a big sweet tooth. 

"You do know that sick people isn't suppose to drink cold things?" 

Despite what she said, Naomi took a small sip. 

"It's probably already lukewarm just from you touching it."

 Selina gave her a cheeky smile and helped her place the boba on her counter. 

"I am actually not sure if I should be offended by that." Naomi said.

 Selina placed the bag back into her hands, "By ME?! Your pitiful friend who comes visit you everyday and gives you boba and presents?!" 

Naomi laughed, "Ok, ok, I'm sorry."

 Finishing tearing open the bag, she saw 2 wrapped boxes. 

"What is it, Christmas?" Naomi was the one poking Selina this time. 

"I'M BURNING!!!" Selina shrieked and pretended to fall over. 

Naomi giggled, then added, "Seriously though, thanks." 

"Just open them! The anticipation is killing me." 

"Don't you already know what's inside?" Naomi murmured, but still tore open the smaller box. 

It was a Pandora box, and after snapping it open, was a pretty ruby bracelet. 

"Ta da!" Selina clapped, "It matches with your earrings." 

Naomi clipped it on, "I love it! Thank you."

 Naomi then opened a big box, in which a white dress fell out. 

"It's supposed to absorb heat or something, making you feel cooler." 

Selina shoved the trash onto the floor. 

"Try it on!"

 Putting on the petite dress, Naomi was surprised to find that it did make her feel a bit better.

  Not by much though. 

Still, Naomi twirled around lightly to the delight of Selina.   

When Selina left, the room seemed cold and lonely. Hayley barely came nowadays, and there was only so much novels Naomi could read, or times she could bother Selina. The only interesting thing was that Naomi had found a pink diary with half the pages ripped out. Writing in a diary- moreover a pink one- was never really Naomi's style, but it seemed as if whenever Naomi questioned this, a headache arose, so Naomi just decided to ignore this fact. And so, another two days passed. And with each, Naomi became more and more desperate to get better.