**The Weight of Unseen Burdens**

Prompt: Simon woke up sick but trys to hide it from his wife emily because he does not want to be a burden. Simon is on chore duty today, so that his wife emily has the time to work from home. So simon brought his kids to school and once he was home again started on his list of chores. Simon went from tyding up to doing the dishes al the wilhe running a fever. It was late in the afternoon when simon collebsed on the couch. He still had to do the laundry but he felt he deserved a quick rest. Emily was juist done working and saw simon sitting on the couch doing nothing. She got cross with him, not realising that he was sick. Simon got up of the couch to do the laundry with tears in his eyes, sickness always left him a bit emotional. After finally finishing the laundry simon picked up the kids from school as emily made dinner. Simon barly ate during dinner as he was not hungry, he struggled to keep his eyes open. After dinner emily put the kids to bed and simon promptly sat down on the couch, shivering as he tried not to fall asleep. Once emily was back from putting the kids to bed she snuggled up with simon ready to watch a movie. She then noticed how warm he was and finaly realised he was sick. She nursed him back to health

Simon woke up that morning with a dull ache in his head and an unshakable weariness clinging to his bones. He peeled open his heavy eyelids, the sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting warm stripes across the bed. Beside him, Emily was already awake, her laptop perched on her lap, the glow of the screen mirrored in her coffee cup. Today, she planned to work from home, and Simon was determined not to let her down. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, heart racing from the effort, and forced himself to rise. The slightest movement made his stomach churn, but he brushed off the discomfort like dust from his shoulders. No way was he going to be a burden today. Emily had enough on her plate, juggling deadlines and conference calls, and he refused to add to her load. After dropping the kids at school, he returned home and faced his chore list. It stared back at him as if mocking his resolve. Tidying up the living room seemed like a good start, so he grabbed the scattered toys, socks, and books, stuffing them into bins while his head throbbed in quiet protest. Each small task felt monumental, but Simon pushed through it, fueled by the determination to keep things running smoothly. The kitchen beckoned next, dishes piled high in the sink like a mountain that had never known the touch of soap and water. He filled the basin, the cold water shocking him, but he continued scrubbing, breathing through the slight dizziness that accompanied every movement. Suddenly, the weight of the day bore down on him. By late afternoon, Simon had barely completed half of his chores. A wave of nausea crashed over him, and he stumbled to the couch, collapsing onto the cushions with a groan. Just a quick rest, he told himself. Emily would be done working soon, and he wanted to at least have the laundry done before she returned to the chaos that came with the kids. But as Simon lay there, eyes fluttering shut, the weariness washed over him like a thick blanket, and each passing minute felt like an hour. He struggled to rally himself back to action, but the effort felt Herculean. Finally, Emily emerged from her makeshift office, her brows furrowed in confusion when she spotted Simon sprawled on the couch. “Simon, why aren’t you doing the laundry?” she asked, irritation seeping into her voice. “You said you’d handle the chores today.” He blinked up at her, the bright light of the room stinging his eyes. “I— I just needed a minute,” he stammered, the warm tears welling in his eyes a result of the illness and the frustration of not being able to meet her expectations. Sickness had a way of making him feel emotionally raw, and it took everything in him to sit up from the couch. “I’ll do it now,” he said, forcing his legs off the couch. Every bone in his body protested the movement, and as he shuffled toward the laundry room, he felt a wave of unsteady emotions threaten to overflow. He managed to finish the laundry, though it took longer than usual, and with weak legs, he made his way to pick up the kids from school. They bounded in joy, their chatter filling the car with life that felt miles away from his reality. At home, Emily was in the kitchen, preparing dinner, the aromas wafting in from the oven almost making him wish he felt more like eating. Dinnertime arrived, filled with laughter and lively stories shared around the table. Simon pushed his food around his plate, each bite a chore of its own. The children danced around the table, full of energy, and he nodded along to their tales of school as fatigue wrapped around him like a heavy fog. After dinner, Emily ushered the kids to bed, leaving Simon on the couch, shivering despite the warmth of the blanket draped across him. The urge to sleep washed over him, and he fought it, trying desperately to stay connected to the moment. Emily returned from tucking the kids in and flopped onto the couch beside him, leaning into his warmth as they settled in to watch a movie. But as she turned to him, her casual smile faded, replaced by a frown of concern. “Simon, you’re burning up!” He opened his mouth to deny it, but his body betrayed him, shaking slightly under the blanket’s weight. “I— it’s nothing,” he whispered, even as his heart sunk at the thought of disappointing her yet again. But Emily shifted closer, taking his hand in hers. “You’re sick, and you should have told me,” she said gently, her voice laced with a blend of tenderness and frustration. “You shouldn’t have pushed yourself like this.” It was the first time all day Simon truly felt the release of the burden he had carried. As Emily tended to him, checking his temperature, wrapping him in another blanket, and bringing him tea, he marveled at her empathy. Caring for him as he lay there, vulnerable and exhausted, it struck him how often he kicked away his own needs to keep things running smoothly for her. In her unwavering support, Simon found solace. It was okay to ask for help. It was okay to be unwell. The world wouldn’t collapse if he succumbed to fatigue and illness for just a little while. And amidst the warmth of Emily wrapped around him, he began to feel like he could finally let go, if only for tonight.