**A Promise Kept Amidst the Fever**

Prompt: Simon woke up sick with a high fever but he did not let that stop him because he promised his wife emily he would do the chores today so that she can work from home. He started on his chores. Every movement made him dizzy. And he fell in a coughingspell every now and then. Halve way trough his chore list he needed a quick break on the couch as he tried not to fall asleep. It was then that he heard emily come in from her home office. He quickly tried to get back to the chores as to not dissapoint her but he failt. Emily got realy angry with him when she saw not everything was finished. Simon could not hold it back anymore. He cried as he tried to explain. Emily apollegised and took care of simon

Simon woke with a start, his body drenched in sweat and his head throbbing like a dull hammer against an anvil. The sun streamed through the curtains, illuminating the room with a soft, golden light that felt surreal in contrast to the haze of illness clouding his mind. He pushed the blankets off, heart sinking at the temperature of his skin. A fever had enveloped him, leaving him shivering and nauseous. Nevertheless, he recalled the promise he had made to his wife, Emily: “I’ll take care of the chores today, honey. You can focus on your work.” Determined to honor that commitment, he swung his legs out of bed. With each motion, a wave of dizziness washed over him, but he gritted his teeth, pushing through the discomfort. The tactile world around him blurred and swayed as he navigated towards the kitchen. His first task was the dishes, a mountain of which had accumulated from the week’s hustle and bustle. Balancing a plate in his unsteady hands felt like carrying a weight too heavy to bear, but he was resolute. The clatter of utensils echoed sharply in his ears, amplifying his discomfort, yet he pressed on. He could see Emily working diligently in her home office, the door slightly ajar. They had created this little sanctuary for her, allowing her to escape to the world of productivity while Simon kept the homefront in order. He could hear her typing, tones of her voice occasionally leaking through the door as she spoke to colleagues. Each thud of the keyboard spurred his spirit, coaxing him to combat this feverish haze for her sake. Yet every small movement sent his head reeling. A cough would grip him unexpectedly, tearing through his concentration, forcing him to double over, gasping for breath. Each cough felt like a fire igniting in his chest, a furious reminder of his body’s rebellion against his will. But the chores beckoned him, their completion tethered to the promise he had made. He tackled the laundry next, stumbling through the motions, desperately trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy. Each item of clothing felt heavier, as if infused with lead, but he muscled through, motivated by a vision of Emily’s relieved smile. Halfway through the list, Simon couldn’t ignore the exhaustion any longer. He nearly toppled over a pile of clean clothes, and he knew he needed a break. The couch was a sanctuary, and he let himself fall onto it, attempting to find a moment of peace. As he lay there, his eyelids drooping, he fought to keep them open. A part of him wished to slip into blissful slumber, to escape the fever’s grasp, but the promise hung heavy in his mind like a weight tethered to him. Lost in his own battle, Simon was startled by the sound of Emily’s door creaking open. The aroma of her freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, and he opened his eyes to see her stepping into the living room, her brow furrowed in concern. “Simon? Are you okay?” she asked, her voice laced with worry. He sat up, panic surging through him. In that moment, realizing that the living room remained in disarray, he scrambled to his feet, only to feel the room tilt dangerously. “I’m fine! Just... just doing the chores,” he managed, clutching the armrest of the couch for support. Emily’s eyes narrowed, scanning the room. The vacuum sat untouched, the dust had yet to be wiped, and the trash had not been taken out. His heart sank with each moment that passed, knowing he had not completed everything he had promised. “What do you mean, you're fine?” Her voice escalated, tinged with a frustration he hadn’t anticipated. “You look awful, and none of the chores seem to be done! Did you even try?” Simon’s throat tightened; the frustration he sensed from her made his heart ache. Clenching his fists, he fought against the tears welling in his eyes. “I... I’m trying, Emily! I just—” But the words wouldn’t come. Instead, the tears began to flow freely, cracking the barriers he had put up in an attempt to stay strong. All he could do was nod through his tears, feeling the weight of disappointment and fatigue crashing over him like a tidal wave. Emily’s features softened, her anger replaced by concern as she stepped closer. “Oh, Simon…” she whispered, dropping to his side and wrapping her arms around him. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. I thought you were pushing yourself too hard.” He leaned against her, feeling the warmth of her embrace seep through the fog of illness. “I wanted to help you,” he murmured, his voice shaky. “I know. But you shouldn’t have to do everything when you’re sick,” she replied gently, brushing a strand of sweat-soaked hair from his forehead. “Let me take care of you instead.” With that, she helped him back onto the couch, a nurturing resolve filling her demeanor. She fetched him a glass of water and a warm blanket. Simon’s body began to relax under her care as he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “You’ve been working so hard, and I wanted to make your day easier,” he whispered, the pain of his fever melting slightly in the warmth of her affection. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to everything.” “You’re all I need, Simon,” she said, her voice soothing his frayed nerves. “You taking care of yourself is more important than any chore. We’ll do it together when you’re better.” The smile on her face brought a glimmer of hope amidst the haze of fever, a promise that life would go on even if chores momentarily fell by the wayside. In that moment of vulnerability and support, Simon felt an irreplaceable bond with Emily; they were a team, united even in sickness. Though the day had not gone as planned, it had turned into an unexpected reminder of love in its simplest form, a promise, after all, that embraced far more than just chores.