Ears Stuffy From Cold May 2026

The worst moment came when his son, Leo, burst into the room. "Daddy! I drew a rocket ship!"

"He. Loves. You. And. So. Do. I. It. Will. Pass."

"What?" he asked, for the third time.

Desperate, Alex retreated to the bathroom. He stood under the shower, letting the scalding water beat down on his head. The roar of the water was a dull, percussive thud, but it did nothing to clear the clogged feeling. He tried the old trick: pinching his nose and gently blowing. A tiny, pathetic squeak. Nothing.

"I can't hear you, Leo," Alex said, the admission a physical blow. He pointed to his ear. "Daddy's ears are broken." ears stuffy from cold

But the worst part, the most isolating part, was his ears.

He found Sarah in the kitchen, her back to him as she made Leo a sandwich. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. She jumped, then relaxed, covering his hands with hers. The worst moment came when his son, Leo, burst into the room

The rest of the world was a distant radio station playing on the wrong frequency.