Matt sturniolo- cramps
my cousin wrote this and she chose a name instead of y/n
Emma woke up to a familiar, unwelcome ache radiating through her lower abdomen. She groaned softly, curling into herself as the cramping intensified. The early morning light filtered through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the bedroom she shared with Matt.
She tried to stay still, not wanting to wake him, but another wave of pain made her inhale sharply.
"Hey," Matt's voice was rough with sleep, but immediately alert. His hand found her shoulder, warm and grounding. "You okay?"
"Period," Emma mumbled into her pillow, embarrassed despite how many times they'd been through this. "Cramps are bad this month."
Matt was already moving, the mattress shifting as he sat up. "Scale of one to ten?"
"Seven. Maybe eight." She squeezed her eyes shut as another cramp rolled through her.
"Okay, stay right there." His lips pressed against her temple, a quick kiss before she heard his footsteps padding out of the room.
Emma tried to find a comfortable position, pulling her knees closer to her chest. She heard Matt moving around in the bathroom, then the kitchen, cabinet doors opening and closing with purpose.
He returned within minutes, arms full. "Alright, let's get you sorted out."
She opened her eyes to find him kneeling beside the bed, his hair messy from sleep, wearing just his sweatpants. In his hands were ibuprofen, a glass of water, and her heating pad.
"You're an angel," Emma whispered, accepting the pills gratefully.
"I'm your boyfriend," Matt corrected gently, waiting until she'd swallowed the medication before plugging in the heating pad. "Which means taking care of you isn't optional, it's literally what I'm here for."
He helped her adjust, lifting her shirt slightly to place the heating pad against her lower stomach. The warmth was immediate and soothing. Emma sighed in relief.
"Better?" Matt asked, brushing hair away from her face.
"Getting there." She caught his hand, pressing it against her cheek. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me for this stuff, Em." He climbed back into bed, carefully arranging himself behind her. His arm draped over her waist, hand resting protectively over the heating pad. "This is literally the bare minimum."
"Still." She melted back against his chest, feeling his warmth along her entire back. "You're really good at this."
Matt's laugh was soft against her neck. "I have a lot of practice. Plus, you know, I actually care about you being comfortable and not in pain. Revolutionary concept, I know."
Despite the cramping, Emma smiled. This was so perfectly Mattâdownplaying his thoughtfulness while simultaneously being the most attentive person she'd ever known.
"What time is it?" she asked.
"Like six-thirty. Way too early to be awake." His thumb traced small circles on her hip. "But we're not going anywhere. I cleared my morning."
"Matt, you have that meeting with your brothersâ"
"Rescheduled it." His voice was firm but gentle. "They understood. Nick said to tell you he hopes you feel better, and Chris said periods are 'metal as hell' which is... I don't know, that's just Chris being Chris."
Emma laughed, then immediately regretted it as her abdomen protested. "Ow, don't make me laugh."
"Sorry, sorry." Matt pressed a kiss to her shoulder. "Just breathe. The ibuprofen should kick in soon."
They lay there in comfortable silence, Matt's presence a steady anchor against the pain. His breathing was slow and even against her back, and gradually, Emma felt her body begin to relax as the medication started working.
"You want me to get you anything else?" Matt murmured after a while. "Chocolate? Tea? I could make you those weird crackers you like."
"They're not weird, they're rosemary and olive oilâ"
"They're weird, babe. But I'll make them if you want."
Emma shifted slightly to look at him over her shoulder. His blue eyes were soft with concern, his expression so openly caring it made her chest tight.
"Maybe in a bit," she said quietly. "Right now I just want you here."
"I'm not going anywhere." Matt tightened his arm around her, pulling her impossibly closer. "I've got you."
Another cramp rolled through, less intense than before but still uncomfortable. Emma whimpered softly, and immediately felt Matt's hand begin rubbing gentle circles on her lower back, right where the ache seemed to radiate from.
"That helping?" he asked.
"Yeah." She closed her eyes, focusing on the pressure of his hand, the warmth of the heating pad, the solid presence of him behind her. "You're really good at this."
"You said that already." She could hear the smile in his voice.
"Because it's true. Some guys get weird about periods."
Matt scoffed. "That's because some guys are idiots. It's a normal biological function. Plus, you're literally in painâwhy would I be weird about helping you feel better?"
"See? Angel."
"Devoted boyfriend," he corrected again, pressing another kiss to her shoulder. "There's a difference."
The morning light grew stronger, painting the room in shades of gold and amber. Emma felt the medication fully kick in, the sharp edges of pain dulling to a manageable ache. Matt's hand never stopped its soothing motion on her back.
"You know what I was thinking?" Matt said after a while, his voice thoughtful.
"Hmm?"
"We should just make this a full rest day. No obligations, no getting dressed, just staying in bed and watching whatever you want."
"You hate the shows I pick."
"I don't hate them, I just think your taste in reality TV is questionable at best." His tone was teasing, affectionate. "But today you get full control. We can watch those house renovation shows where everyone has an unrealistic budget, or that baking competition you like, or literally anything."
Emma turned more fully in his arms, facing him now. The movement jostled the heating pad but Matt quickly adjusted it, making sure it stayed in place.
"You really rescheduled your whole morning?" she asked.
"Emma." Matt's hand came up to cup her face, his thumb brushing her cheekbone. "You're in pain. Where else would I be?"
"Most people would just bring the medicine and go back to sleep."
"I'm not most people." His eyes searched hers, serious now. "And you're not just anyone. You're my person. Your pain is my pain, your bad days are my bad days. That's how this works."
Emma felt tears prick at her eyes, overwhelmed by the simple sincerity in his voice. "I love you."
"I love you too." Matt leaned in, kissing her forehead, then her nose, then finally her lipsâsoft and sweet and perfect. "Now, are you comfortable? Do you need me to adjust anything?"
She settled back against him, letting him arrange them both until she was tucked perfectly into his chest, heating pad in place, his arms secure around her.
"This is perfect," she whispered.
"Good." Matt's hand found hers, fingers intertwining. "Sleep if you can. I'll be right here."
Emma closed her eyes, feeling the steady rhythm of Matt's heartbeat against her back, the warmth surrounding her, the pain now a distant throb rather than the sharp agony from earlier.
"Matt?" she murmured, already half-asleep.
"Yeah, baby?"
"Thank you for being you."
His arms tightened around her, and she felt him smile against her hair. "Thank you for letting me take care of you."
As Emma drifted off, she thought about how lucky she wasânot just to have someone who brought her medicine and heating pads, but someone who understood that love was in these quiet moments. In the rescheduled meetings and the gentle hands and the willingness to just be present in the pain.
Matt stayed awake a while longer, watching her breathe, making sure she was comfortable, his hand never leaving her hip. This was love, he thought. Not the grand gestures or the dramatic declarations, but thisâbeing exactly where you needed to be, exactly when someone needed you.
And there was nowhere else he'd rather be.
