2.4 A blast of hot air

I woke to a blast of hot air.

My throat was parched and my eyes were tearing. PHC’s upstairs bedroom had exposed heat ducts, and the vent was right over the head of the bed. All night it had periodically been pummeling us with heat in accordance with the thermostat. Beside me, Lila was sleeping with a silk scarf protecting her face, her silver-dyed hair …