boys with high fevers, half conscious, trembling against caretakers, begging. for a hot bath to help the chills. for caretaker to stop forcing water when they know they’ll only be sick again, for relief, for comfort, for sleep. a constant string of mumbled, tearful “please”s, whispered against caretaker’s chest. absolutely desperate.
but a hot bath would only worsen the raging fever, dehydration is becoming a serious concern, and caretaker is almost powerless to provide any significant respite from this dreadful, miserable virus. so they can only hold boy gently, stroke his hair, hushedly reassure him everything will be alright, while the endless string of feverish pleading continues.
please, please, please, please