My 2-year-old only says 'not yet'.

My two-year-old second daughter developed a fever.

She had been having a clear runny nose for a few days, and just recently, it started turning yellow.

My wife said she felt something was off when she picked up our daughter this morning.

However, when she took her temperature with a thermometer, it was a normal 36.8°C.

Half a day later, I got a call that my daughter had developed a fever, so I wrapped up work early and went to pick her up from daycare.

When we went to our regular pediatrician, there was a very elderly female doctor who touched my daughter's body and looked inside her mouth.

The doctor said,
“This is going to cause a high fever.”

She never runs tests.

But she has never been wrong in her diagnosis either.

We got the prescription and went home.

Strangely, at first, no matter how high her fever gets, she runs around as if nothing is wrong.

Is that how all young children are?

I sent a message saying I would be taking tomorrow off work.

The next morning.

In the morning, her temperature was 37.3°C.

I saw my wife off as she left for work.

I dropped my eldest daughter off at nursery school and, at the same time, informed them that my second daughter would be staying home.

And so, I was left alone with my second daughter.

I thought it was a rare occasion, but since she was home sick, I couldn't exactly relax and take it easy.

I fed her and gave her her medicine.

My second daughter said, "I want to watch Bluey!" so I put it on for her.

After she finished watching Bluey, she said, "I want to go outside!"

But I replied, "You're two years old and you have a fever, so you can't go outside," and turned her down.

She looked sulky, but after a little while, she seemed to get over it and started saying, "Let's play hide-and-seek."

I said, "Sure, okay, I'm going to count to ten, so go hide!" and started hanging up the laundry.

"One, two, three..."

"Ready or not?"

'Not yet'

'One, two, three...'

However, no matter how many times I ask
'Ready or not?'
,


'Not yet!'

is all that gets repeated.

She probably doesn't understand the rules yet.

My second daughter peeks her face out from under the blanket, looking at me the whole time with a hopeful, beaming smile.

She's completely visible.

Neither her head nor her bottom is hidden.

Even so, she feels like she's hiding, and she's probably waiting for me to say
'Found you!'

There's no need for her to learn the right way to do things right now.

Thinking that, I said,

'Found you, two-year-old!'

and she laughed,

'Hahaha!'

, and said,

'Do it again!'

she said.

No matter how many times we repeat it, it's forever,

'Not yet.'

And every time, in the same place, with their face and bottom completely exposed, just a blanket draped over their back.

Even so, they smiled for me again and again.

It was only peaceful in the morning.

After lunch, they finally seemed to have run out of energy, and their mood soured rapidly.

They cried no matter what I did.

They cried even when I did nothing.

They would say 'hold me,' so I would pick them up, only for them to say 'put me down' and cry.

When I put them down, they cried even harder.

I took their temperature and it was 40.3°C.

With such a small body, forced to endure suffering without understanding why, I thought it was only natural for them to be confused, especially with the fever.

I did as they wished: picked them up, put them down, and walked around while holding them.

They said they wanted to go outside, so we went for a very short walk.

However, the sun was shining.

And the wind was blowing.

When we get inside the house, she starts crying intensely again.

When I touch her hands and feet, they are hot.

This is a sign that the fever is breaking.

I administered a suppository and waited for the medicine to take effect.

After about 30 minutes, perhaps she felt a little better.

My second daughter began to fall asleep.

I laid her down on the futon and lay down beside her.

Her body is hot.

Should I cover her with the futon?

Should I take it off?

I think about it for a moment, but since I am counting on the antipyretic effect of the suppository, it is better to let the heat escape.

Deciding this, I only cover her stomach with the futon, leaving her legs and chest exposed.

Labored breathing.

A flushed face.

Fine hair damp with sweat.

I thought I would try to sleep too, but since I couldn't, I just lay down next to her.

I wonder how much longer it will be until things get easier?

Suddenly, I remember the game of hide-and-seek we played earlier.

"Ready or not?"

I ask.

"Ready!"

I hoped that would be the reply, but my daughter didn't answer at all; she just breathed softly and stayed fast asleep.