Sickly Sweet

Brandon loves when I get sick. It’s the only time he gets a wife who actually likes to cuddle. Most other times, I am not one for physical affection. Sure, holding hands is nice. I like an occasional kiss. And I’m good with sitting close on the couch for a movie. But when it comes to regular affection, no thank you. Especially when we’re ready to go to sleep. No cuddling. No hugging. No touching. Stay on your own side. Keep your feet away from my feet. Don’t touch my pillow. Don’t you dare breathe on me.

Sunday afternoon I started to feel a little nauseous. A little woozy. A little like my insides wanted to be on my outsides. I don’t remember eating anything funky, but I know there’s some kind of stomach bug going around the office. I felt my appetite slipping away. My motivation to do anything but lie there on the couch floated off. And then I found myself staring at the video games on our television screen. I watched for about 5 minutes before I realized what was happening. Me. Watching video games. For 5 minutes. Something is terribly wrong.

Brandon turned around and saw me sitting there, my face squished up against the seat of the couch. “Are you okay? What are you doing?”

“My stomach doesn’t feel right.”

He whirled around with a big smile on his face. He knew what it would mean. Time for his semi-annual uninhibited cuddling session. It meant full dependence on him for all my comforting needs. He no longer had to deal with the independent, stubborn wife. He now had his nice, sweet-tempered wife within arms reach. So with unconcealed excitement and raised eyebrows he said, “Does this mean you want to cuddle?”

I felt the neediness factor rise, and shook my head yes.

But there was one little problem. He wasn’t wearing a shirt. And I knew it wasn’t going to work for me. I can’t stand the thought of getting that close to a bare armpit. There was absolutely no way my face could rest against his hairy, sweaty chest. Handsome Italian man or not. Sickly wife or not.

“Will you please go get a shirt first?”

And then without hesitating, he looked down at his chest, smirked and said:

“But I’m already wearing a sweater.”

And with that, I want to leave you with four things:

1. Stomach bugs are the worst.
2. My bathroom needs more decorations.
3. My husband brought me flowers to make me feel better. I love him. Deeply.
4. No. I am not pregnant.