Cold, Wet, and Shivering

It all began as an overcast day, a dampness hung in the air, a fine mist, but without any wetness, if you know what I mean. Certainly not a good day to be outside, but none the less, that's where I ended up, outside. Some free time, away from work, away from home, away from everything and everybody was just what the Doctor ordered and who was I to argue. I stopped the truck, stepped out, heard the click of the locking door as I walked away, never once looking back. The first warning should have been the shiver that ran up my spine, but it wasn't. Even the dark, grey clouds that circled and swirled overhead was ignored. I walked and walked thinking about everything while thinking about nothing. Well, needless to say, the dampness in the air got thicker and heavier, the swirling clouds turned the mist into rain and I got soaked! Too far from the truck to make a mad dash, I hunkered down under an oak tree, its limbs giving me some protection during the heaviest of the downpour, but I still got soaked to the bone. It wasn't cold, but I guess with the slight drop in temp and along with being drenched, I couldn't shake the chill that had set in. Cold, wet, and shivering I sat there until the worst had passed then I retraced my steps, back to the truck and the welcoming sound as the door lock clicked open. The truck's dryness, its warmth cradled me, but when the truck's heater failed to warm the chill away, I knew I was in trouble. When I heard that little nagging voice whisper, "Don't let it be said, I didn't try and warn you. Far be it from me to say, I told you so." I knew I was in for trouble, I should have listened, but I didn't and there's no one else to blame. It's my fault, all mine. In the back of my mind, I saw the flashing red lights, that nagging voice in the back of my head whispered warnings of danger, but I didn't listen. Did Will Robinson ever heed the "Robot's" cry of danger ahead? NO! And like Will, I am suffering the consequences of my stubbornness along with plenty of reminders: chills, fever, hacking dry cough, rattling in the chest, wheezing, sneezing, watery eyes, sore throat........................