**A Promise Kept**

Prompt: Simon woke up sick with a high fever but pushed through it because he promised his wife emily he would do the chores today so that she can work from home. He got the kids to their grantparants for a long pland sleep over and started on his chores. Every movement made him dizzy. Halve way trough his chores he took 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 quite cross 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 and told him not to hide being sick again

Simon awoke on Saturday morning to an unwelcome heat swirling inside his head. A glance at the clock revealed it was nearly 8 a.m., and he couldn’t shake the feeling that his body had turned against him. With a low groan, he rolled over, hoping that the warmth of his blankets might staunch the fever raging within him. He sniffed, the unmistakable pressure of congestion clogging his sinuses, and reached for his phone. “I won’t let her down,” he mumbled, remembering the promise made to his wife, Emily, just the night before. She had been swamped with work, stuck on a deadline, and he had resolutely told her he would handle the chores today so that she could focus without worry. Today wasn’t just any Saturday; it was their time to recharge, and he wanted to lift that burden from her shoulders, even if he was feeling like death warmed over. With tremendous effort, Simon peeled himself from the bed and staggered to the bathroom, the cold tiles jolting him back to reality. After splashing his face with cool water, he offered himself a careful examination in the mirror. The reflection staring back at him was pale, eyes sunken and weary, but he couldn't afford to feel sorry for himself. Emily needed him. After a shaky breakfast, he rounded the children up—two lively kids, Mia and Ben, with boundless energy and loud laughter. They were delighted to find that today’s adventure involved a sleepover at their grandparents' house. He couldn’t dampen their spirits even if he tried, so he allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction as he buckled them into their car seats. “Bye, Daddy! We’ll have so much fun!” Mia chirped, waving enthusiastically as he pulled away from the curb. Watching them disappear into the warm embrace of their grandparents, he took a moment to breathe deeply, firming his resolve. It was time to tackle the chores. Once home, the reality of the day settled heavily on his shoulders. Each movement felt like trudging through thick mud—dizzy spells flooded him like waves, and a dim light buzzed at the edges of his vision. Still, he pushed through, starting with the laundry. The washing machine churned with a comforting hum, yet Simon couldn’t shake the sensation that it was mocking him through every spin cycle. He forced himself to dust the furniture, wiped the counters, and tackled the endless pile of dishes, each task an uphill battle. Halfway through, his body screamed for a break. The couch invited him into its comforting embrace, offering sweet solace with its cushions. He sank down, closed his eyes, and for a brief moment, he surrendered to the fatigue. It wasn’t long before he heard the soft click of Emily’s office door creaking open. His heart sank as he realized he hadn’t finished all the chores. Panicking at the thought of disappointing her, he bolted upright, a wave of dizziness crashing over him. He rubbed his temple as he stumbled toward the kitchen, hoping he could just pull together the last few tasks unnoticed. “Hey, Simon!” Emily’s voice chirped softly, tinged with the weariness of a long workweek. She emerged from her office, where her computer sat like a relentless taskmaster. The moment she saw him, her smile faltered, replaced by concern as her gaze swept over the unfinished chores scattered around the house. “Simon, did you—” “I’m finishing! I promise!” he interjected, the heat building in his chest as he tried to gather himself. But the look of disappointment in her eyes twisted a knife in his gut. She took a step closer, and he caught a glimpse of the frustration that clouded her expression. “Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t feeling well?” she asked, her voice rising slightly. “I could’ve—” “​​I didn’t want to let you down,” he blurted out, choking on words that tumbled over one another. “I thought I could do this. I just... I wanted you to have today.” The weight of it crashed into him, and before he knew it, Simon was crying. Hot, frustrated tears he’d held back spilled over as he tried to explain his foolish pride. “Simon, please.” Emily rushed to his side, her voice softening into concern. “I didn’t mean to snap at you. I’m— I’m sorry. You should have told me you were feeling this way.” Gazing up at her, he felt shame wash over him, the kind that only comes from familial love laced with the sting of letting them down. But her gentle fingers brushing through his damp hair brought him comfort, even through the haze of his fever. “Let’s get you lying down,” she said tenderly, her demeanor shifting as she re-evaluated what mattered more—the mop and broom or her husband’s health. “I tried, Em,” he croaked, his voice hoarse. “I really did.” “As much as I appreciate you trying to help, you’ve got to promise me—you can’t hide when you're sick. You come to me, and we will work it out together, okay?” Simon nodded, feeling a new warmth spread through him, one that offered more comfort than the blanket he wished he could crawl under. With Emily’s help, he made his way back to bed, where he surrendered finally to the pull of slumber, knowing that tomorrow was another day, and their love, forged through challenges and promises, would carry them through whatever came next.