Last winter (2017) was the harshest season I have experienced since I was born. There came two snowstorms in a string. The temperature readings on the thermometer plummeted far below zero. It is exceptional on the city’s meteorological records, given that we are located in central China.

One Saturday in the snowy season, I caught the flu. The whole day I felt sick.

School over, when I got home, Mother found me weak and listless. Finding out I had got the bug, she decided to take me to the hospital for treatment. The doctor there said that I would need to get treated on three consecutive days. Therefore, the next Monday I asked sick leave. Having attended the third class on Monday afternoon, I left school.

Father accompanied me on the trip to the hospital. The treatment completed, we got home. It was about nine in the evening. Father suggested I take a hot shower. He believed that it would help me get better quicker. I followed his advice.

The shower done, I saw my parents already in bed. With the heating on in my room, I started to tackle my homework.

Before it was approaching midnight, my homework was almost done. Mother woke up and said that she had a headache. I ignored it in the beginning. A while later, I felt a bit uncomfortable too.

While using the toilet, Mother collapsed on the floor. Alarmed, Mother warned us that something must have gone terribly wrong. By then, Father had reported a headache, too.

Every winter there are cases of gas poisoning reported in town. Father urged me to call 120 right away. I did as instructed.

In no time, the paramedics arrived at our flat. With their help, we were taken by ambulance to Taihe Hospital as fast as possible. In a test that followed, the CO level in our blood was found to be way over the safety mark. We needed hospitalisation for further observation and treatment. According to the medical staff, it would last for at least a week.

We felt lucky upon hospitalisation. Thanks to Mother’s headache, we realised in time that something nasty had happened. Otherwise, I would not be able to be writing about it now, Shengliver. Only after a lengthy treatment were we released. We have all recovered.

Our home shower is powered by natural gas. It turned out that, as I had been taking the shower that evening, the gas that was heating the water was not fully combusted. Some carbon monoxide, as a result, leaked into the air we had been inhaling. That was the culprit for the poisoning.

We cheated death once. The whole experience has raised my awareness of potential hazards in familiar settings in everyday life. Hence, I appreciate every moment I live and every breath I take. It feels so good to be alive.