The little boy coughed silently and turned around to Jia. He was too weak to open his eyes, but he seemed to feel her presence.

The woman lovingly wiped over his sweaty forehead and realized how cold his skin was.

"Liling, stay here, I'll try to get him some more blankets. He needs you right now."

Liling nodded her head and took Bo's hand and whispered something into his ear. Jia quickly rushed out of the room and asked everyone she met for a blanket.

A nurse stopped by her and looked at her sceptically.

"Aren't you ill? You should go to bed or it'll get worse."

"I .. need a blanket."

Without any further words the woman handed her a blanket and looked for the next patient. Jia coughed and stumbled back to their room as fast as possible.

The hallways were full of doctors, and everyone of them, if they were ill or not, did their very best to help the patients.

Only not enough.

From hearing a talk between two nurses Jia could find out that some of the patients already died from the illness and that the cure of it would arrive tomorrow.

Tomorrow seems so near but every hour seeing Bo suffering felt like an eternity.

When Jia finally arrived at her and Bo's room she noticed how Liling was aguing with a nurse.

"I'm not letting my child alone."

"We need you Liling, we need every doctor we can get."

"Do you know how it feels to see your own child dying??!?"

"Oh yes I do."

"You have no idea."

Liling broke down next to her childs bed and desperately cried. Jia's heart broke into pieces as she saw how Bo was gasping as if something would strangle him.

He has to survive until tomorrow.

"I just lost my child too, and I didn't even see it die!", the nurse scoffed at Liling and held back her tears.

"Why don't you understand that I have to be with him then?"

"He will survive until tomorrow, but there are others that are in a worse state than he is right now!"

"Please let her stay...", Jia whispered under tears and stepped between the fighting women. "Don't you see he is suffering? He needs a doctor."

"You have nothing to say.", the angry woman yelled at her and grabbed Liling by her arm to pull her behind her.

"Liling, don't let this happen!", Jia tried to hold her back, but the only thing she saw was a regretful look in Lilings eyes, when she squished Bo's hand for the last time.

"Let me say goodbye at least...", Liling broke into tears and hugged her own flesh and blood carefully.

"I love you."

"I love you too.", escaped through Bo's dry lips.

Liling burried her face into his blanket but then gave into the pulling of the nurse and left the room without any other words.

In unbelief Jia watched her leave and then turned back to Bo, who was still shivering and coughing like before. Carefully she placed the blanket over him and tugged him in.

"Are you still cold?"

"You'll stay right?"

Bo, who had opened his red eyes for a short time, snuggled onto her hand and awaited an answer.

"I will never ever leave you."

Jia thought she could see Bo smiling slightly, and his coughing got calmer for some time.

It's the only thing she could do for him right now.

Staying.

Attentively to not hurt the little child she climbed into his bed and wrapped her arms around him tightly. The boy immediately leaned his head against her chest.

She wouldn't leave him.

~~~
BOOOO TT