The retreat was supposed to be a break from everything—a chance to reset, to come together as a team, and, for Tim Bradford, maybe even a chance to patch things up with Lucy Chen. But nothing was going according to plan.
For the past few days, Tim and Lucy had been at odds, snapping at each other over small things, a tension lingering between them that neither wanted to address. Tim didn't know where it had all gone wrong, but he hated the distance that had crept into their relationship.
The team had been divided into pairs for a hike that morning, and much to his dismay, Tim had been partnered with Lucy. They walked in silence for the first part of the trail, the air thick with unsaid words. Every time he tried to bring up their recent arguments, his throat tightened, and he couldn't find the right words.
By the time they reached the midway point, a small clearing overlooking a serene lake, Tim was feeling off. A wave of nausea rolled over him, and he forced himself to take deep breaths, hoping it would pass. But the discomfort in his stomach only grew worse.
"Tim, are you okay?" Lucy asked, breaking the silence. She had noticed his increasingly pale complexion, the way he'd slowed down.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he muttered, not wanting to show any weakness. He wasn't about to let something like this be another point of contention between them.
But as they continued, the nausea became unbearable. Tim stopped abruptly, doubling over as his stomach churned violently. He barely had time to lean over before he started vomiting, his body wracked with spasms as he emptied his stomach.
"Tim!" Lucy was at his side in an instant, her hand on his back, concern etched on her face. "You're not okay."
He couldn't respond, too focused on trying to catch his breath between bouts of vomiting. The world spun around him, and he felt weak, unsteady on his feet. All he wanted was for it to stop.
When the worst of it passed, Tim straightened up, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He looked at Lucy, embarrassed and vulnerable in a way he wasn't used to.
"I'm sorry," he managed to say, though he wasn't sure if he was apologizing for getting sick or for all the arguments they'd had.
"Stop," Lucy said gently, her hand still on his back. "Don't apologize. You should have told me you weren't feeling well."
He shook his head. "I didn't want to…I don't know. I didn't want to bother you. With everything going on between us…"
Lucy's expression softened. "Tim, I don't care what's been going on. You're my partner. I'm here for you, no matter what."
The sincerity in her voice broke through the walls he'd been putting up, and for the first time in days, he felt a sense of relief. Maybe it was the exhaustion from being sick, or maybe it was the look in her eyes, but Tim knew that whatever had been between them, they could work through it.
"Let's get you back to the cabin," Lucy said, slipping an arm around him to steady him. He didn't protest, too drained to argue.
As they slowly made their way back, Lucy kept up a steady stream of conversation, light and comforting. And though Tim's stomach still churned, he found himself focusing more on the sound of her voice, the warmth in her tone. Maybe this retreat wouldn't be so bad after all.