To: Amy Farrah Fowler
From Dr Sheldon L Cooper
Thank you for your prompt response Amy. I have been thinking about our relationship. Penny has been questioning my intentions towards you. I am aware we have a relationship agreement and I want to honour that, but I realise you expect things from my that I quite honestly do not always understand.
Amy, why do you feel the need to want to hold my hand when you are not in distress or in need of comfort?
I think if you could explain this to me I may not annoy you with my response if this situations occurs again.
Kind regards
Dr Sheldon Cooper.
Re reading his email Sheldon hit send.
Again he sat for a while, awaiting Amy's response, but he soon realised it was approaching his bed time so needed to begin his night time ritual. Closing his laptop down he resolved to check for Amy's response before work the next day.
Amy was surprised to receive Sheldon's email. She had spent a pleasant evening with him and their friends. They had had a meal, and Amy had taken Sheldon home when the others had decided to go to a bar. Sheldon had exchanged the normal pleasantries in the car. They had played a round of counter-factuals during the journey, and had arranged to Skype the following evening.
When Sheldon had immediately replied with his question Amy had nearly phoned him. It was not as if Sheldon hadn't questioned her wanting to hold his hand on numerous occasions, and had stated quite clearly he was not fond of the experience. So for him to formally put the question in writing made Amy realise it was bothering him, and Amy really had no desire to upset the one person in her life who understood her.
Normally Amy would phone Penny and ask advise, but she knew if Penny had already been questioning or teasing Sheldon he would not appreciate it. Deciding to sleep on the question Amy got ready for bed, but set her alarm half an hour early so she could reply to Sheldon before she left for work.
To: Dr Sheldon cooper
From: Amy Farrah Fowler
Sheldon I have spent the night considering your question carefully. The hand holding clause in our relationship agreement states we hold hands to offer comfort if the other party is in distress of some kind.
When you hold my hand at any time I feel comfort. It reassures me you are there. It reassures me you care, and when you hold my hand in public I feel both peaceful and a happiness and contentment that I do not feel at any other time.
Sheldon I know you feel my feelings are, to use your words, 'hippy dippy!' but your question to me has raised a question in return.
Sheldon does my holding your hand make you feel anxious, unclean or embarrassed?
Amy
x
Amy was very concerned when she sent her reply to Sheldon. The previous evening when lying in bed thinking of her response Amy began to have doubts of her own. Was Sheldon embarrassed by her? Maybe she should talk to Penny after all.
Deciding to see how Sheldon replied first, Amy decided the best thing she could do would be to go to work and talk to Sheldon later, via Skype, as they had previously planned.
'Oh Dear Lord', thought Sheldon as he read Amy's email whilst eating his Scottish oats that morning. What had he done? He had thought these questions would clear his mind, but now he had stirred up questions in Amy that sounded as if she was as unsure of this as he was.
Why could she not have just given him a simple answer and been done with it. Now he had to reassure her and he really was not good at that at all.
To: Amy Farrah Fowler
From Dr Sheldon L Cooper
Amy, please let me assure you, you do not embarrass me. I certainly hope I did not imply you did. You are one of the most hygienic people I know, and having thought about it, I have decided when I hold your hand I feel various things.
I feel startled initially, as I am often unprepared for the contact, but then I like the coolness of your hand. I also like how you do not hold my hand too tightly.
Having thought about this at some length, it has occurred to me that my questioning your hand holding has made me realise I am not as opposed to it as I had thought, and therefore if it is OK with you, I suggest we alter the relationship agreement accordingly.
Amy thank you for being so honest in your reply. I look forward to conversing with you later.
Kind regards
Dr Sheldon Cooper.