26: Soothe
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Unlike him, who likes to be left alone, undisturbed in an impenetrable cocoon of bedsheets and tissues, she demands to be coddled and snuggled and cared for. After years of trial and error, he learns to accept this part of her. He sees it as a small price to pay for the one he loves. And he does love her. Endlessly. Beyond reason. He loves her so much, that even the slightest of sniffles, sends him on alert. He steels himself for the impending onslaught.
And it comes. It always does. An ascending curve.
She's at its peak today, in the gray morning light, as the rain sluices violently against the window panes. A manifestation of her misery.
Her face is one of petulance. She wants to scream. How dare the universe strike her down like this. A cold! The most banal of afflictions. Always incredulous that she-Sailor Moon, Champion of Love and Justice-can be so easily reduced to a pathetic, sniveling lump.
"Mamo-chaaan." She calls for him, voice high and squeaky in contrast with the deeper sounds of her congestion. Her red-rimmed eyes peek out from beneath their duvet. "I can't sleep. I just want to sleep. Make it go away. Please. Pleeease."
Always the eye of her storm, he pushes back her sweaty bangs and places a cool cloth over her eyes. The darkness is comforting. She cannot help but sigh as he rubs her clammy skin, hands cool and dry upon her breast bone. His palm circles and circles and circles. A lulling motion, like the dip of a boat or the tick of a clock. Steady. Calm.
And his mouth, pressed into the shell of her ear, whispers shh, shh, shh until it's one never ending word, a soothing balm that rocks her sweetly to sleep.