I don’t really enjoy museums but I enjoy my best friend, Jailey. And my best friend, Jailey, does enjoy staring at old artefacts and dusty wooden furniture from like 1832. So, here I stand,next to giddy tourists with phones at the ready, snapping photos of some vase. I let my chestnut hair fall into my eyes and sigh, where even is Jailey? As if she heard me, a hand taps my shoulder. Two bright blue eyes stare up at me, “Why aren’t you enjoying all of these objects, Syd?”
I force a smile, “Y’know, just taking a bit of a break. All of these tourists are getting a bit much.”
Jailey’s expression softens, “I get that. They’re so gullible… No one even wants to see that old wooden chair thingo.” Words of truth.
“Yeah.”
She ties her blush coloured hair into a haphazard ponytail, “C’mon, Syd! You at least need to see this cool medicine box!”
“But I don’t-”
“I don’t care,” she pulls me toward yet another glass case, “This time it’s compulsory.”
“This isn’t a history exam, Jailey!” I roll my eyes.
Jailey frowns, “Stop being so stubborn, Sydney Deborah Valencia-Curota.”
I fake a gasp, “My full name?! I must be in big trouble. Maybe confiscate my phone while you’re at it, mum.”
She glares at me, “Come on, Syd.”
I begrudgingly give in as Jailey pulls me by the arm, “Helpppp!
She’s kidnapping me! This was not consented!!!!”
Strangers give me weird looks, like usual.
My eyes fall on the medicine box. Wooden with a drawer ejected out from the middle. A keyhole sits below the rim, like a misshapen school crest. The box is filled with old looking glass bottles, the raised lid has a berry blue velvet looking gnarly pattern.
“Isn’t it cool?” Jailey says excitedly.
I shrug, “Neat.”
I don't think much of the box.

1819

I sit up in bed, a rush coming to my head. Afternoon sunlight flows through the window, cracked from a ball. Birds call from outside, tweeting and cawing. My soft breathing turns into a cough. Good thing dad has his medicine chest.