As I lay in bed, weakened by illness, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for not responding to my girlfriend's texts. Despite my condition, I strained to listen for the sound of her arrival, my heart fluttering with anticipation mixed with worry. The silence of the room only amplified the weight of my sickness and the ache of longing for her presence.

Each passing moment felt like an eternity as I lay there, my mind consumed by thoughts of her and the concern etched in her messages. I wished I had the strength to reassure her, to let her know I was okay, but all I could do was wait, my body tethered to the bed by illness's unforgiving grip.