The pain was like nothing I’d ever felt. I ran to the sink only to realize there was no running water to relieve it.

“The stream,” I exclaimed, bolting towards the door where I sobbed, struggling to get it open with my blistered raw hands. I finally managed to get the door open, then ran for what felt like an eternity before falling beside the stream and plunging my hands into the ice-cold water.

I wailed loudly at the pain from both my hands and my heart. ...