Summer ruffled Isaac’s curls before taking his arms and drawing him toward the bathroom again. “You are not getting a list right now. Right now we’re going to take a /short/ shower and you’re going to behave and not tease and then we’re going to get Mexican.” He grinned widely. “Because you love Mexican.”
Wriggling into Summer’s hand as his fingers moved through his hair, Isaac smirked playfully and allowed his boyfriend to take the lead, laughing. “So bossy, but I love you anyway. And I do love Mexican, but not as much as you.” He hummed and pressed a kiss to his cheek, before moving to turn the shower on.
True to his word, Summer clamped an iron control over himself, watching Isaac as little as possible. He washed himself with still-familiar efficiency and climbed out quickly, wrapping a towel around his waist and staring at himself in the foggy mirror.
By about the third hesitation, Summer was kneeling on the couch, watching him with a perplexed expression. “Isaac, what in the world are you talking about? Go where?”
Trying to calm down his panicked babbling, Isaac took a deep breath and licked at his lips, forcing himself to maintain eye contact. “I…the, um, the Winter Formal.”
“The Winter … ” she repeated slowly. “Oh! Oh, of course. Yes, I’d love to go with you.” She grinned at him. “I was worried it was something awful, Isaac!”
“Breathe.”
“Can you hear me?”
“Do you remember what happened?”
“Does that hurt?”
“Focus on my voice.”
“Hold on to me.”
“I’ll carry you.”
“I’m not letting you walk, I’m going to carry you.”
“It’s going to be fine.”
“It’s healing quickly, just hold still.”
“Just focus on me.”
“Listen to me, you are going to be fine.”
“Put your arm around me, I’ll help you walk.”
“Relax.”
“Stay awake.”
“You hit your head and you’ve been out for two days.”
“You’re going to okay.”
“Your head hurts?”
If you’re overwhelmed by the crap the world is piling on you – it’s okay to disengage for a while. Turn off the television. Step away from the computer. Stop arguing with the idiot who doesn’t want to listen. Go hug someone you love, play with a small child, care for a pet, write a letter to a friend you have’t spoken with in a while. Add small joys to the world.
You’re not betraying anyone. You’re not giving up. You’re practicing self-care (and we’ve got your back while you’re resting).
We need you strong and healthy. You need you strong and healthy.
