"I wish you were coming with me," Tom muttered as he tied a bow tie beneath his chin.
"As much as I love you Tom, I can't tell you how glad I am that I don't have to come with you," Sybil said with a small laugh as she lay in bed.
"I know," Tom smiled. "It's no more your cup of tea than it is mine."
Tom was going to a charity formal dinner organised by his office. He didn't want to go in the first place, but the prospect brightened when he had convinced Sybil to come as his plus one. However, she had recently fallen ill and was taking the time to rest as much as possible. Her throat felt incredibly scratchy and her voice was coming and going. Tom had spent days waiting on her hand and foot, providing her with hot drinks and copious amounts of love and moral support. Despite all this, she was not at all well enough to accompany him, so he was left to get ready alone as Sybil watched him from the bed.
She was sat under the duvet with pillows propping her up, her hands wrapped around a warm cup of herbal tea with additional honey, and a book resting on her lap.
"Try to enjoy yourself," Sybil squeaked, the sound not coming out of her mouth like it should.
"I will," Tom said. "But it won't be half as much fun without you beside me."
Sybil smiled.
Tom sat beside her on the edge of the bed and stroked her arm.
"These things are never as bad as you think they're going to be," Sybil encouraged.
"Even so," Tom said, "I'd rather I didn't have to go."
"I know, love," Sybil muttered.
Tom leant forward and kissed his wife gently.
"You ought to go," Sybil said, "or you'll be late."
"And what a shame that would be," Tom said sarcastically.
"Hey now!" Sybil reprimanded.
"I wish I could stay and look after you," he said, not moving from his spot beside Sybil.
"I'll be fine," Sybil said. "I've got a cup of tea, a book and a blanket. If I need you, I'll ring you. Now, go!"
"Okay, I'm going, I'm going," he said reluctantly, heaving himself up from the bed.
He leant down to give Sybil a kiss on the forehead before slipping on his shoes, reminding Sybil once again how much he loved her, and disappearing from the room.
Sybil heard the front door close and then Tom's car engine started. By the time he got back Sybil would likely be asleep. But for now, she picked up her book and took in the words on the pages, losing herself in the fictional world. The only thing that could have made the experience better would have been Tom's strong arm wrapped around her shoulders. But she couldn't always have everything, and she knew it.
I've not checked this through, so I hope there were no mistakes, but if there were any, they were entirely my fault. I hope you liked this little chapter. Please review if you did!