**A Promise 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. Every movement made him dizzy. 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. She dis not notice that he was sick. Simon could not hold it back anymore. He cried as he tried to explain. The nausea got out of control and simon berely made it to the sick on time. Emily took care of simon

Simon stirred awake, a shiver racing down his spine like a bolt of lightning. His muscles ached, and every inhalation felt heavy. "Not today," he groaned inwardly, his mind battling the weakness that settled into his bones. He glanced at the clock, its hands ticking steadily, reminding him it was morning—a morning he had promised Emily he would take care of the chores to allow her a graceful day at work. With determination coursing through him, he forced himself to sit up. Sweat trickled down his brow, but he shook off the feeling of sickness as if it were a heavy blanket. The last thing he wanted was to let Emily down. He stumbled into the kitchen, the world shifting slightly around him. The stack of dishes in the sink loomed like a mountain, a daunting task overshadowed by his fever dream muddles. Ignoring the wave of dizziness, he reached for the sponge. The cool touch of the water soothed his hand, but each movement left him feeling unstable. He fought through the fog, reminding himself of how hard Emily worked from their shared office just down the hall. She deserved a clean space to concentrate without the distraction of chores waiting for her. As soap suds began to bubble around the dishes, he closed his eyes, trying to gain focus. "Alright, Simon. Just keep pushing through," he muttered under his breath. However, the familiar warmth of fever encased him tighter with every passing minute. His vision blurred slightly, but he told himself it was just momentarily. One dish became two, and then three—each item a small victory against his mounting illness. The laundry basket called to him next, and he shuffled over, dragging his weary body with each step. The fabric felt heavier than usual, the scent of detergent hardly refreshing but instead nauseating. Midway through the chore list, Simon’s vision spun, a sudden wave of fatigue crashing over him. Grasping the edge of the couch, he sank down, the cushion swallowing him whole. It felt so warm and inviting. Close my eyes just for a moment, he thought, fighting against the exhaustion gently pulling him under. He must have dozed off, because the next thing he heard was the soft sound of Emily’s footsteps advancing from her office. Panic jolted through him; he couldn’t let her catch him resting. Scrambling to stand, he gave it one last effort. Dizziness blurred his vision again, but he rounded the corner with resolute steps. “Hey, Simon! You okay?” Emily called, her voice bubbling with an almost cheerful tone before trailing off, confusion knitting her brow as she took in the half-finished tasks around the house. “Yeah… just, um, working on it…” he replied, forcing a smile that felt like a plaster mask. The warmth in her eyes faded as she surveyed the remnants of the morning’s work. “It doesn’t look like you’re done. Wasn’t the plan to have everything tackled by now?” she asked, a note of disappointment creeping into her voice. Simon’s heart sank. “I… I tried—” “Trying’s not enough, Simon. I asked you to take care of this so I wouldn't have to worry… You said you would.” His stomach twisted painfully as he struggled to break through the fog enveloping his mind. Each word felt like a dagger piercing his chest. He didn’t want to disappoint her, but his body refused to cooperate. “Emily, I’m really sick—” The tension in her face didn’t soften. “I can’t keep doing everything, Simon. I rely on you,” she snapped, frustration flaring like a candle in a drafty room. He felt the world starting to crumble around him. The tears slipped down his cheeks, each drop a testament to the struggle he faced not just that morning but in his fight against the illness. It burst forth, a floodgate of emotions that spilled from within as he grasped for the words that escaped him. “I’m so sick… I—” But before he could finish, a wave of nausea seized him, twisting his insides. He staggered toward the bathroom, holding the doorframe for support. Each step felt like a battle, an uphill fight through the haze. Halfway there, he was engulfed by the darkness swirling at the edges of his mind. Simon barely made it to the toilet in time, the contents of his stomach spilling forth in violent waves. Behind him, Emily’s demeanor shifted. The anger melted into alarm as she rushed to his side, her irritation forgotten. She knelt beside him, a hand pressed against his back soothingly. “Oh, Simon… I didn’t—” “No, I… I didn’t want to let you down,” he gasped. His breaths were labored, and the fever raged within him. Emily’s fingers brushed back his hair, her touch tender and full of concern. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I should’ve known you weren’t yourself. I’m so sorry I snapped,” she whispered, the fragility of her voice sent a rush of warmth through him, cutting through the chill of his feverish state. Hours seemed to drift as she stayed by his side, bringing water and a damp cloth to his forehead. She held him, murmuring gentle words of comfort, her presence anchoring him through the discomfort. In that stillness, Simon realized that sometimes promises waver against the unpredictable waves of life. It was okay to lean on someone else, to ask for help when the weight became too much to bear. The love between them pulled taut in the silence, a reminder that when sickness strikes, it does not erase the bonds that hold them tightly together. As he closed his eyes, he felt a surge of gratitude for Emily—her kindness, her patience, and her unwavering care enveloping him like a warm embrace.