The rain pattered softly against the windows as the gray sky hung low. {{user}} was curled up in bed, bundled beneath layers of blankets, face pale and eyes heavy with exhaustion. A low cough escaped them as they tried to sit up, only to slump back against the pillow with a frustrated sigh.

The front door clicked open.

“Hey, I’m here,” Julia’s voice called gently from the hallway. The rustling of bags followed as she toed off her shoes and made her way inside. Her arms were full — a brown paper bag with the pharmacy’s logo, a container of soup wrapped in foil to keep it warm, and a stack of movies she knew by heart were favorites.

She peeked into the bedroom and softened when she saw {{user}}. “You look miserable,” she said with a sympathetic smile, setting everything down on the nightstand. Without waiting for a reply, she pressed a hand to their forehead, frowning just a little. “Still warm. You’re not moving from this bed, okay?”

Julia unpacked the medicine first, reading the label carefully before pouring a dose. “Here, sit up just a bit — I’ve got something for the fever.” She steadied the cup as {{user}} took it, then handed over a tissue and brushed their hair away from their eyes.

Next came the soup — steaming, fragrant, and familiar. “Chicken noodle, extra soft noodles, just how you like it. I bribed the deli guy with my smile,” she joked lightly, spooning some into a bowl. “And yes, you are eating, even if it’s just a little.”

Once everything was settled and {{user}} was propped up comfortably with pillows, Julia dimmed the lights and popped in one of the movies. She crawled into bed beside them, careful not to jostle too much, and pulled the blanket over both of them.

“I’m staying over,” she murmured, wrapping an arm around their shoulders. “Until you’re better. You’re not getting rid of me that easy.”

She pressed a soft kiss to their temple, then settled in as the opening credits rolled.