Good days and Bad days
Hello, everyone. This idea came to mind on that" glorious" day of the month and I thought about how Michaela and Sully would handle it. This story is set after A New Life.
'Why today?' Michaela wondered to herself. Her lower back and hips ached in such a way that she couldn't relax. Michaela wrapped her arms around her legs and felt a gush and she groaned and let a tear fall. She moved to sit up and noticed that her head hurt more than Michaela ever thought it could hurt. Michaela looked beside her and saw that Sully was asleep. She didn't want him to see her like this. She had to be strong for him. She couldn't show weakness.
Michaela took a deep breath and got up and got dressed. She tried to hide the "evidence", but she feared it wouldn't be enough. Everything seemed to fall apart for Michaela. She couldn't seem to get dressed fast enough and she couldn't seem to button up her blouse. She groaned and huffed quietly as tears rushed down her cheeks. When she had finally gotten dressed, Michaela poured water from her pitcher into the basin only for the pitcher to slip out of her hands and break.
Sully woke up to the sound of the pitcher breaking. He opened his eyes and saw Michaela kneeling to pick up the broken pieces. He could her groan and sniffle and he grew confused. Michaela hissed as she cut her finger and she looked at Sully and tried to pull herself together.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." Michaela apologized.
"Michaela, why are you sorry? I'm sure it was an accident." Sully replied as he stood up. Michaela shamefully looked down at the floor and then grabbed a towel only for it to fall out of her hands and hit the floor. Michaela fumbled as she tried to pick it up, but Sully gently grabbed her by the shoulders and stopped her.
"I'm so clumsy."
"You're crying. What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Sully looked at Michaela with concern and love in his eyes. Michaela looked past Sully and then rushed over to the bed. Sully turned and before he could see what was going on, Michaela had covered the problem.
"Michaela, what's wrong? I don't like seeing you this way. I want to help you." Sully wondered.
"Nothing. Just an accident. It won't happen again." Michaela murmured. Sully sighed and walked over to Michaela and removed the cover. Michaela tried to stop him, but Sully stopped her. He saw the blood and looked at Michaela in worry.
"Are you alright? Do you need anything?"
"I'm fine."
"Michaela, is it your monthly?"
Sully grabbed Michaela's arms and knew by her reaction that it was.
"I'm so ashamed," Michaela whispered.
"I don't understand. I thought this was a good sign. A sign that you could have a baby. Why are you so ashamed about it?" Sully questioned as he sat on the bed beside Michaela.
"I was taught that a woman wasn't allowed to show weaknesses and that most men look down upon their wives if they so much as hear mention of a monthly. I was taught it should be kept to yourself."
"You were taught a lot of things you shouldn't pay attention to. You were never ashamed of it before. Why now?"
Michaela started crying and Sully hugged her and let her cry.
"I'm sorry. I can't help it." Michaela apologized.
"Shh. Just let it out." Sully encouraged. When Michaela was done, she looked up at Sully who still held her close.
"I'm sure you dealt with Abigail plenty of times."
"No, I didn't. When Abigail so much as saw a spot, she would kick me out to the barn. Every time I entered the house, she would scream at me and throw a pot at my head. It was a few years before I finally knew why she would do that. Charlotte said that it was the stress of the bleeding. She told me to give Abigail the space and love she needed. She said that Abigail was young and that most of the time, it was worse in younger women. She told me it was nothing to be ashamed about or look down upon." Sully explained. "No matter what I did, Abigail was determined to keep that part of her a secret from me, and eventually, I stopped pushing her," Sully explained.
"I'm sorry," Michaela whispered.
"Don't be. Just don't send me out to the barn."
"I won't."
Sully pulled Michaela close, and Michaela relaxed in Sully's embrace.
"Does it hurt?" Sully wondered.
"Yes," Michaela admitted.
"I'm sorry."
"Oh, Sully. It's nothing to be sorry about. It's not your fault."
"I know. I just wish I could take away your pain."
Michaela smiled and ran her fingers up and down Sully's arms.
"How did I get so lucky? To have a husband who understands me so much and loves me at my best and my worst." Michaela sighed.
"It's me who's lucky. I never thought I'd be able to love again." Sully replied.
Michaela felt a wave of pain and she sat up and groaned causing Sully to panic.
"What is it?" Sully asked.
"It's just a cramp," Michaela mumbled. "I'll be fine."
Michaela stood up and felt a gush. She moaned and sighed sadly.
"Nothing seems to be going right today." Michaela huffed. She knelt to clean up the floor and Sully grabbed her hands and stopped her.
"Leave it. I'll take care of it." Sully said. "Let me take care of you today. Please. It's all I want."
"I have to get to the clinic."
"I think people will survive a day without you. You can't go to work like this."
"What about the bed?"
"I'll take care of it. What do you want? Tea, a bath, breakfast. I'll do whatever you want, Michaela. Just tell me."
"I could use a bath and some tea does sound nice. And I think I could use some rest and a snuggle." Michaela agreed. She smiled slightly at Sully who smiled back.
"Yes, ma'am," Sully whispered. They kissed and Sully picked Michaela up and laid her down on the bed. He pulled away and squeezed Michaela's hand. "One bath coming up."
Sully walked downstairs and saw Colleen and Brian getting ready for school.
"Hey, Sully. Is ma awake?" Brian asked.
"She is, but she's not feeling well. I'm gonna stay home and take care of her." Sully answered. He looked over at the children and saw that they were worried. "It's just one of those days." Colleen knew what Sully meant and she nodded in acknowledgment.
"Come on, Brian. We're gonna be late for school." Colleen replied.
"Tell ma we hope she feels better," Brian said.
"I will. Now, get to school before you're late." Sully stated. Brian and Colleen left the house and Sully heated some water for Michaela.
Sully prepared a nice hot bath for Michaela and then he walked upstairs and saw her in bed resting. He kissed her forehead and Michaela opened her eyes.
"It's ready," Sully whispered. Michaela sat up and tried to unbutton her blouse but couldn't. Sully squeezed her hands and then reached up to unbutton her blouse. Sully helped Michaela out of her clothes and into a robe. Then he carried Michaela downstairs. When they reached the tub, Sully put Michaela down and she smiled at him.
"Thank you, Sully," Michaela mumbled. Michaela took off her robe and sat down in the tub. She groaned and relaxed in the hot water and Sully made tea for her. When he had put the pot on the stove, he saw Michaela trying to wash her hair.
"Let me," Sully suggested.
"Thank you." Michaela thanked.
"You're so beautiful."
"No, I'm not. Not today."
"Well, you're beautiful to me and that's all that matters."
Sully knelt and took a cup and filled it with water. He poured it on Michaela's hair and then he took her soap and lathered it in her hair. Sully washed the soap out of Michaela's hair and then took a washcloth and lathered soap into it. He washed Michaela's neck and shoulders and Michaela moved forward and allowed Sully to wash her back. When Sully was done, he moved and looked at Michaela for permission before he washed her chest and stomach. Michaela gasped at the touch and then relaxed. Sully scrubbed the rest of Michaela's body and then he finished making Michaela's tea. He gave it to her and then massaged Michaela's feet.
"Better?" Sully wondered.
"Much," Michaela replied.
When Sully was done, he looked at Michaela's finger and saw that it was small but painful.
"I'll wrap it when you're out of the tub," Sully said. He walked upstairs and cleaned the floor and the bed while Michaela relaxed. When he came back down, He saw that Michaela had finished her tea. He grabbed a towel and held it out.
"Stay in there much longer, you'll turn into a prune," Sully said.
"It's getting a little chilly anyway." Michaela agreed.
Michaela climbed out of the tub and Sully wrapped her in the towel and hugged her close. Michaela giggled and relaxed as Sully dried her off. Sully removed the towel and Michaela put her robe on. Then Sully took the towel and dried Michaela's hair. He put the towel down and carried Michaela upstairs to bed. When Sully carried Michaela into the room, he laid her down on the bed and made sure that she was comfortable. Sully cleaned and wrapped Michaela's finger and then looked at Michaela.
"Want some breakfast?" Sully wondered.
"No. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to keep it down." Michaela sighed.
"Feeling any better?"
"Yes. Much better. Although, I'm still in need of a snuggle."
Sully smiled laid down next to Michaela. He pulled her close and they fell asleep.
Sully woke a couple of hours later and saw that Michaela was still asleep. Sully kissed Michaela's head and pulled her closer. He felt Michaela stir and he tried to stay still. He hoped that Michaela would go back to sleep, but she didn't. Instead, she looked up at Sully and smiled.
"Hey," Sully whispered.
"Thank you, Sully. For understanding." Michaela thanked.
"Anytime. Does your head hurt?"
"Some, but it's better now. How did you know?"
"I could see it in your eyes."
"I haven't had a monthly this bad since I moved out here."
"Well, you've been under a lot of stress recently."
"I guess you're right."
They laid there for a while and eventually fell back to sleep. When they woke, Michaela felt better and sat up.
"I think I'm ready to eat something," Michaela said.
"I'll make us lunch," Sully replied as he sat up. Sully made sure that Michaela was comfortable, and Michaela giggled. "You stay here. I'll bring lunch to you."
"Thank you."
Sully walked downstairs and made lunch. When he returned, he put the tray of food on the bed and Michaela smiled.
"Thank you, Sully." Michaela thanked as she started to eat her lunch.
"You're welcome," Sully answered. "Everyone needs a day to rest. Even doctors."
Michaela and Sully ate lunch and then Sully cleaned up downstairs while Michaela tried to put her hair up. Her fingers fumbled and Michaela huffed as she dropped the pins. When Sully walked back in, he saw her struggling and he grabbed her hands.
"Let me," Sully suggested. Sully sat behind Michaela and grabbed a ribbon. He brushed Michaela's hair back and began to braid it. When Sully was done, he tied the ribbon around her hair and smiled. "There."
"Thank you, Sully." Michaela sighed. "I think I'd like to get some fresh air."
"We can walk up to the creek."
"I'd like that."
Michaela and Sully walked downstairs and outside. Michaela breathed in the fresh warm June air and she smiled at Sully.
"I feel much better now. I forgot how good it feels to be outside." Michaela said. They walked up to the creek and saw a doe and a fawn. "Sully, look."
"They come up here every day about this time. It's the same ones we brought Brian to see." Sully replied. "I've been watching them. Fawn's healthy and thriving."
Sully and Michaela stayed and watched the fawn and doe till they left and then they walked home and sat on the porch and talked till the children came home. By then, Michaela was feeling much better and was able to finish out her day feeling somewhat productive.
After the children had gone to bed, Michaela and Sully walked upstairs to their room and got ready for bed. They laid in bed resting and Michaela rolled over to face Sully.
"Sully?" Michaela whispered.
"Hmm." Sully moaned.
"Thank you for taking care of me this morning."
"I love taking care of you, Michaela. You're my wife and I love you very much. I would never force you to struggle through a day without support and comfort."
"It's just…. I was raised in an environment where the woman always put her husband's needs above her own. And she never shared her struggles or her health."
"In a way, you still put my needs first. I needed to take care of you. I wanted to take care of you, and you let me do that. I vowed to take care of you just like you vowed to take care of me. I want to talk about anything and everything you want to talk about. I want to know about your good days and your bad days, and I want to help you through them."
Michaela and Sully kissed, and they snuggled together.
"I love you, Sully," Michaela whispered.
"I love you too," Sully replied.
THE END