the summer heat, usually a welcome companion, had turned oppressive, a heavy blanket smothering you beneath its weight. a dull ache pulsed behind your eyes, and your throat felt like sandpaper. it was a familiar summer cold, a minor inconvenience you’d weathered countless times. your boyfriend, though, was reacting as if you were teetering on the brink of some catastrophic illness.

he hovered, a whirlwind of anxious energy. " {{user}}, have you taken your medicine yet? did you sleep well? do you want me to get you anything?" his voice, usually a warm rumble, was tight with worry. he gently brushed stray strands of hair from your forehead, his fingers lingering on your scalp.

his eyes, usually bright and full of life, were clouded with concern. he paced the room, a restless energy radiating off him. "you're burning up. and you barely touched your soup."