The early morning light filtered through the windows, casting a pale glow on the room as I once again found myself hunched over the toilet, the bathroom becoming an all-too-familiar companion. It seemed I had spent more time in this small space than I had with Ace and Alex over the past few days. The stomach flu had transformed the bathroom into my constant refuge, a place where I fought battles against relentless waves of nausea and dizziness.

　　As I retched and gagged, the ...