In a cozy bedroom adorned with family photos and a gentle ticking clock, a woman sat beside a young girl wrapped in a blanket, her face flushed with fever.

The woman gently touched the girl's forehead to check her fever. While the girl's fever had decreased significantly, she still needed to take her medicine. With a soft pat on the girl's head, the woman called out gently, 

"Bian, it's time to take this pill."

I hesitated after hearing this. I felt a knot of resistance form in my stomach.

"Mom, I really don't want to take these pills." My voice was barely above a whisper.

"You have to take them to feel better." Mom's tone was comforting but firm. However,

"Can't I just have some syrup instead?"

"You're a big girl now, and your dad won't like it." Mom was trying to encourage me.

"Dad may just scold me," I mumbled, anticipating Dad's reaction.

"You still have a lot to learn about your dad. Here, I've cut them into smaller pieces for you."

Mom is trying to make the pills more manageable. But after seeing those small pieces, my face grimaced.

"Ugh, it's going to taste even more bitter now."

"Enough complaining, Bian, and..."

During our conversation, the door creaked open, and someone entered the room.

I looked behind Mom to see who had come. It was Dad.

"What's going on here?" he asked.

My face lit up at the sight of Dad, momentarily forgetting about the bitter pills. However, Mom's expression seemed slightly tense.

Why is she making that face?

"Nothing much, dear, but what brings you here?" 

Mom asked normally, yet I found a hint of surprise in her voice.

"You said you were just going to give her the medicine." 

After saying that, Dad directed his attention to me. Mom immediately started talking after seeing Dad coming closer to me. 

"I was just about to – 

Is she again giving you a hard time about taking pills?"

However, Dad didn't let Mom finish and started taking charge. 

I could tell Dad was angry. As I grew older, Dad's attitude toward me changed. Now he scolds me more frequently.

Sometimes I wish I could turn back small again.

"Don't worry, she'll take it eventually."

Mom said that, but Dad looked at me, his expression stern, then turned to Mom.

"Give me the pills. I'll feed her."

Mom's expression turned to terror. I still don't understand why she is making a face like that.

"It's okay, I'll –

Give it to me."

Dad interrupted again.

Mom didn't say anything, just handed Dad the pills.

After examining the pills, Dad frowned and said in a sharp voice, 

"Why are they cut into tiny pieces?"

".....So she could swallow them easily,” 

Mom hesitated for a moment, then replied in an anxious voice. Dad's cold gaze locked onto me.

"But she still didn't."

Dad discarded the small pills and grabbed a new one, stepping closer to me. A shiver ran down my spine.

I knew I couldn't protest like I did with Mom. The fear of disappointing him numbed me.

The thought of Dad scolding me made my stomach churn and caused nausea.

He started talking as soon as he came in front of me:

"Open your mouth and take it in. Then take a mouthful of water to swallow it."

"I tried, but I couldn't swallow it.”

"Then put a mouthful of water in your mouth and open your mouth. I'll put this pill in your mouth."

He is determined to feed me the pill. I looked at Mom. She just closed her eyes. Mom attempted both ways to feed me the pills.

But I still couldn't do it. I felt a sense of helplessness. I'm unable to tell him anything as I did with Mom.

Reluctantly, I followed his instructions, only to spit the pill out of my mouth once more.

Dad remained stoic. He retrieved the same pill and repeated the process.

As the bitterness intensified, the urge to retch grew stronger.

I fought against it and tried once more to swallow the pill, but my body betrayed me, expelling the pill again.

Undeterred, Dad continued with his actions and urged, 

"Open your mouth."

The taste is still lingering on my tongue.

"Dad, it's too bitter."

"You wouldn't taste it if you could just swallow it."

"Can't I take syrup instead?”

I pleaded, desperation creeping into my tone.

"No, you'll take this." 

He insisted firmly, his resolve unyielding. I knew I couldn't swallow the pill, but I was afraid to tell him.

I placed the bitter pill in my mouth, each second intensifying the urge to spit it out. I couldn't bear it any longer, so I expelled it forcefully.

Bleargh…

Before I could even lift my head, a sudden sharp pain struck the back of my head, making me fall from my bed.

Confusion clouded my mind as the room spun around me. Tears blurred my vision, and a loud noise buzzed in my ears.

Is my fever getting worse?

Struggling to focus, I tried to glance at my parents. Mom was trying to pull Dad away, urgently saying something. Dad shoved Mom aside and came toward me.

"I'm scared."

I managed to whisper, but his slap silenced me, knocking me to the ground.