He slept horizontally for the first time in three nights. The next morning, Mira found the kitchen reeking of horseradish and the search history still glowing on his phone: best way to clear clogged nose .

He filled a bowl with boiling water, added a generous glob of horseradish, a squeeze of sriracha, and three drops of peppermint oil for good measure. Then he draped a towel over his head, leaned over the bowl, and inhaled.

Air.