The Airsports Federation of Asia (AFA) meeting days were finally over.

Thanks to a good friend, I was booked a deluxe stay at Villa Rotana with breakfast buffet. Because I was sick and probably contagious, we decided I stay at the hotel alone, since all I can do was sleep (and eat) anyway.

My UAE itinerary now seemed impossible. I was supposed to meet a few friends but I didn’t want to bother or infect them with my mysterious viral illness.

After 5 days of high fever and chills that won’t go down, I felt sick-er than the first day. Being stuck inside the hotel room 24/7, and not being able to breathe fresh air, I felt lonely and suffocated. The Arabian traumas that I confidently said I was over with, were slowly creeping back under the sheets of my nightly shivering.

I woke up on day 5 and felt the strongest urge to leave the UAE. I felt part of my illness was already psychological. The loneliness was pulling me into a dark place. I decided to rebook my flight home, 5 days earlier than planned.

A direct flight from Dubai to Manila was over the top expensive. I chose the cheapest option, which was a multi-city flight from Dubai to Kathmandu to Hongkong to Manila.

As soon as I booked the flight. An overwhelming sense of relief flooded over me. I felt my stubborn fever slowly dissipating into thin air.

To be continued…