**The Morning After**

Prompt: As soon as simon yates wakes up a wave of nausea hits him that has him stumbeling to the bathroom, however he does not make it in time and the sound of it wakes up his wife emily. Simon feels guilty about making a mess and being a burden. Emily tries to comfort him and takes care of him. The day is filled with emily wispering soothing words as simon throws up

As the first golden rays of dawn crept through the curtains, Simon Yates took a deep breath, only to find it trapped in a tidal wave of nausea that engulfed him like a storm. His eyes flew open, and the world spun, sending him tumbling out of bed. Panic surged through him, urging his legs to move despite the heavy blanket of exhaustion and queasiness that clung to him. He took one shaky step, then another, but nothing seemed to help as the feeling only intensified. He could barely stumble across the room, barely register the soft sounds of his wife, Emily, sleeping peacefully beside him. She resembled a serene angel, her chest rising and falling slowly with each breath, while he felt like a heavy stone sinking in murky waters. Just as the thought crossed his mind that he might not make it, a wave of sickness rolled over him. The next moment, the world went black as he doubled over, emptying his stomach all over the carpet. The sound was enough to stir Emily from her slumber. She jolted awake, her eyes wide with concern as she instinctively realized something was wrong. “Simon?” she called softly, her voice laced with sleep but tinged with worry. In that moment, all Simon felt was guilt—hot and corrosive. He hadn’t meant to wake her, hadn’t wanted to ruin her morning. “Emily, I’m…” he croaked, the words failing him as another wave of nausea hit, forcing him to convulse and retch once more. It felt like everything inside him was trying to escape, and humiliation washed over him in waves, a tide of discomfort that had nothing to do with the sickness itself. “Shh, it’s alright, love,” she whispered, scrambling from the bed. The world around him slowly steadied as he lay there, a clammy sweat coating his skin. He wanted to curl up and disappear, but instead, he met Emily’s warm, worried gaze. “Just breathe, okay? You’re going to be alright.” He grimaced, feeling like a burden. “I’m sorry, Em. I can’t believe I did this. I—” “Shh,” she soothed, kneeling beside him on the floor, her hand brushing soothingly through his hair. “You don’t need to apologize. Just focus on me.” Emily’s voice was low and steady, like a calm sea amidst a raging storm. “Look at me. Deep breaths in and out.” It took every ounce of willpower Simon had to follow her instructions. He focused on the gentle rise and fall of her chest, the warmth radiating from her, which built a small haven amidst the chaos swirling in his gut. As he inhaled and exhaled, her presence had a grounding effect, dispelling a fraction of the shame that had gripped him. “Let’s get you to the bathroom,” she said after a few moments, rising to help him to his feet. “One step at a time.” He nodded weakly, leaning against her as they shuffled together toward the bathroom. Emily kept her arm wrapped around his waist, providing both physical support and a reminder that he wasn’t alone in this. Once they arrived, Simon knelt before the toilet, and another wave of sickness overtook him. He felt dreadfully helpless, but Emily was there, murmuring words of comfort as she held back his hair and wiped his brow with a cool cloth she had hastily grabbed. “I’m so sorry,” he mumbled between heaves. “You shouldn’t have to do this. You should just sleep…” “I’d much rather be here with you, Simon,” she said softly, her voice like a balm to his battered nerves. “Just let it out. We’ll get through this together.” As the minutes stretched on, Emily’s gentle whispers filled the room, wrapping around him like a soft blanket. With each bout of nausea that wracked his body, she kept talking. “You’re doing really well. Just keep focusing on me, alright? I love you, you know that?” “I love you, too,” he managed to reply, though the words were muffled by the relentless assault of his insides. He didn’t want her to have to see him like this; he despised being a burden. But her soothing presence was a lifeline, reassuring him that he was cared for, regardless of how pathetic he felt. As the morning turned to midday, he felt a little more stable, the worst of it ebbing away like a receding tide. They spent the rest of the day cocooned in their little sanctuary, Emily making sure he had sips of water, broth, and even the occasional toast. “You need your strength back,” she insisted, though he could see the hunger wasn’t in his eyes or in her heart; it was the fierce determination to care for him. It was during one of those low-key moments that guilt tried to make its unwelcome return. “I’m really sorry for ruining your day, Em. I know you had plans—” She didn’t let him finish. “You didn’t ruin anything. Look at me—I’m right here.” She smiled, softening the edges of his guilt. “This is where I want to be. Besides, we can always reschedule. What matters is that you’re okay.” Each time he faltered, warring within himself between gratitude and shame, she was there with a gentle reminder of affection and support. “It’s alright to need someone, Simon. It doesn’t mean you’re a burden. It just means we’re human.” Her words settled into him, gradually dissolving the pain of embarrassment like salt in water. Though he hadn’t planned for such a chaotic morning, he found solace in knowing he had Emily by his side. Together they weathered this storm; as undignified as it was, they were stronger for it. As evening fell, Simon collapsed into bed, exhausted but comforted by the warmth of Emily beside him. He took a moment to appreciate the little things; the soft glow of the bedside lamp, the faint sound of her breath, the way she tangled their fingers together as though they were woven by fate. “Hey,” she murmured as he sank into a half-sleep. “You alright? Just remember—it’s okay to lean on me.” And as he drifted off, he realized that love, in its purest form, is never a burden. It’s an unwavering tether, holding the fragile pieces of life together, ready to catch us when we fall.