Softly Rise
By SMYGO4EVA
The sun was shining, the storm having passed, and yet it didn't feel like a good day.
Rei curled up in her bed, still in her pajamas, with a heating pad on her lower abdomen, feeling nauseous all over, and a pounding headache. Every month, this always made her slow down, and always, always, the time of month did not care if she had things to do that day.
Ughh, no, not now. I can't miss school again, or shirk off my duties at the shrine. Why do I have to deal with this, just because I'm a woman? Just because I don't want kids yet doesn't mean I should be punished for it. Why haven't the pain pills kicked in yet? How come-
"Rei, are you alright?" A familiar voice broke her wallowing thoughts, and Rei lifted her head from to see who that was.
Minako stood at the doorway of her room, smiling gently, and she held a bag of items for her during this trying time.
"I thought I'd stop by and see how you were doing." Minako said, walking over and gently settling herself on the bed, so that the shifting wouldn't bother Rei. "You've said before that the time of the month was rough for you in the past, so I brought some things over to help you feel better."
Rei sat up straight, and she nodded. "Yeah, it's not fun in the first few days."
"Tell me about it." Minako replied, and she moved herself closer, bringing the bag between them, and opening it up. There were bags of chocolate, extra feminine products, a blanket, and water bottles.
Rei blinked, and she smiled, feeling a little better already. "Wow, thank you so much, Minako."
Minako beamed, putting the bag onto the floor. "It's the least I could do, so maybe you can rest for a bit. I'll sleep beside you until you feel a lot better, okay ?"
Rei nodded, her eyes growing heavy, with sleepiness taking hold. "That's a good idea."
With an affirming noise, Rei settled herself under the covers, her head on her pillow.
The bed dipped and Minako lay down beside Rei, and the pain she felt started fading away.