“It’s just congestion,” she said. “Drink water.”
But just before he fell asleep that night, he could have sworn he heard a tiny, distant chorus whisper: ear drops for clogged ears from cold
“ There, ” Geri said, satisfied. “ Canal’s open. Ferry’s running again. Now for the love of all that is sterile, do not use those drops again without checking the expiration date. And tell Claire the soup idea was good. We’re starving in here. ” “It’s just congestion,” she said
“ You’re having a cold, ” the voice corrected. “ I’m Geri. I run the ferry service across your tympanic membrane. And your ear is currently in a lockdown because some genius decided to blow his nose too hard three days ago and sent a mucus tsunami into the middle ear valley. ” Ferry’s running again
“Good enough,” Daniel muttered. “Clogged is clogged.”
Not the sound of the world coming back into focus. No. He heard a voice. Small, wet, and irritated.