Year of the Boar, Twelfth Month, Day 2.

A healer finally arrived yesterday. She has given Atsuko some disgusting concoctions and the fever does seem to have receded. Atsuko managed to eat a small amount of fish which is surely better than a diet of soup... Can it be that the gods have finally taken pity on me?  I cannot bring myself to think about what will happen if Atsuko does not recover. I could not bear it.

The weather is not helping. The inn is flimsy and the walls do not seem to hold the heat from the fires in most of the rooms. There are gaps in the roof I had not noticed until the icy wind outside found its way inside and the matting seems permanently damp. Riko has heated some bricks in the fire which we have wrapped in blankets and put around Atsuko's bed to keep her warm. The healer says the next day is critical. She brings medicine every few sticks and barks instructions at me as if I am Atsuko's maid. I suppose I have not told her otherwise and for now, it does not matter. I only want Atsuko to make a recovery.