overworked + exhausted

Lots of sniffling, hitches, sneezes, gentle chatter between Mera & I, a nose blow or two,, and several little interruptions from our cat, Pinto :]

they scrunch it up and huff a little, a sharp exhale to try and nip the tickle in the bud, but with the cat in such close proximity to their face any attempt at this point they know will be futile.

sighing in defeat, they scoop the animal up by the armpits and extend it out to its owner.

“heyheyhey can you p-hhuuh-leeease take the cat becauseIhaveto—!”

they aren’t able to finish their sentence and instead suck in a sharp breath. With the cat still in their hands they have nothing to cover with, and there’s a split moment of panic that flashes across their face as they try to figure out what they’re going to do.

Thinking fast, they turn their head to the side and pitch into their shoulder. It’s a desperate attempt to try and stifle a series of itchy sneezes by completely crushing their nose until the cats owner finally pulls the animal from their hands.

Someone in the group has been sick for a few days now. They've been keeping it well under wraps, excusing themselves from rooms, volunteering for the tasks that can be done alone, getting up and going to bed earlier. And god they're so exhausted. But sickness is weakness, they know this.

By day 5, it's getting pretty rough. Their sneezes are getting so thick and heavy that stifling takes everything in them. Their chest is starting to ache from the congested pressure and their bones are growing cold from days of running feverish.

But then, someone else in the group comes down with the cold. Not knowing that it's really original character's cold. This second character has no qualms about admitting when they're sick. The group bands around them, making sure they rest and are well looked after.

This of course means additional chores for original character. They trudge their feet along the ground, feeling their fever growing higher and higher as day slips to night.

As they lug something heavy, nose dripping, head swimming, they look over at the crackling fire. Second sickie, whose cold is mild, is bundled in blankets, sipping something warm. The others are bunched around them, laughing, passing handkerchiefs, faces golden by the blaze.

"Cold and flu"

"What?"