#over worked

Andrew stood silently in the doorway, his arms crossed as he took in the scene. His heart ached at the sight of you—exhausted, slouched, barely awake, yet forcing yourself to keep going.

“Darling.” His voice was firm but not unkind, cutting through the quiet.

You flinched, startled, and looked over your shoulder. “Andrew? What are you doing up?”

He stepped into the room, his expression a mix of concern and disapproval. “The better question is what are you still doing up. It’s practically morning.”

“I just—there’s so much to do,” you mumbled, turning back to the screen. “I’ll sleep when I’m done.”

Andrew’s brow furrowed. He crossed the room in a few long strides, gently closing your laptop before you could protest. “No, you’ll sleep now.”

“Andrew!” you started to object, but the look he gave you stopped you in your tracks.

“You’ve been running yourself into the ground for weeks,” he said, his voice soft but insistent. “I’ve watched you skip meals, cancel plans, and stay up late every night. This isn’t sustainable, and it’s not healthy.”

“I’m fine,” you muttered, though the dark circles under your eyes betrayed you.

He knelt beside your chair, taking your hands in his. “You’re not fine, and you don’t have to be. Whatever this is, it can wait. You come first, not this.”

You stared at him, the weight of his words hitting harder than you expected. “I just... I didn’t want to let anyone down.”

Andrew sighed, brushing his thumbs over your knuckles. “The only person you’re letting down by doing this is yourself. And maybe me, because I hate seeing you like this.”

His honesty brought a lump to your throat. You looked away, ashamed.

“Darling,” he said, gently tilting your chin so you’d meet his gaze. “You don’t have to do everything on your own. Let me take care of you for once, okay?”

You nodded, too tired to argue anymore. Andrew smiled softly and stood, pulling you to your feet.

“Bed. Now,” he instructed, guiding you out of the room with a protective hand on your back.

When you reached the bedroom, he pulled back the covers and waited until you climbed in before tucking you in with care. As he slid in beside you, Andrew wrapped an arm around your waist, holding you close.

“You’re safe,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to your temple. “Rest. Everything else can wait.”

🍬