700 words on why friendship and connection matters

Nausea and vomiting aren’t pleasant symptoms. 

It is 2am in Kuala Lumpur and from my hotel room on the 33rd floor, I have one of the best views in the city of the Petronas Twin Towers. But this only serves to remind me that I am thousands of kilometres from home and how alone, unwell and scared I feel.

What I had been most paranoid about happened so insidiously. The offending food wasn’t served at street market or in a questionable location as I had been so overly careful.

But it happened and it hit me so suddenly.

I was starting to get concerned. Why wouldn’t you? If you were medically trained and an acute care expert — I was losing more fluid than I could replace. I was dizzy, tired, feverish and my mind was racing and starting to get the better of me.

I…