The stress is eating at him.
His laptop open he's working in our living room early in the morning with a cup of coffee on the table.
He takes a sip of his coffee, hair disheveled, his eyes tired like he hadn't slept for days.
Exhaustion is his posture, shoulder tense as he works on his laptop.
Ever since our last visit with his grandfather, Griffin had immersed himself in his works, even more, I didn't think it was possible but here he is. He told me to go to bed before him last night, I went to bed without him and woke up without him. I don't know if he slept at all, or if he just woke up before me.
He needs rest.
I open our fridge and grab the overnight oatmeal I had prepared for him in a medium size mason jar.
I filled it with oatmeal, oat milk, Greek yogurt, chia seeds, and fresh diced apple, and drizzle it with honey.
I open the jar and place a spoon inside for him "You need to eat something, besides drinking coffee." I place the jar close to him.
He looks up with a tired smile, dark shadows under his eyes "I think my hands are too busy to feed myself. Maybe if you feed me, I'll be able to eat?"
"Griffin, did you go to bed last night?" I ask instead. His eyes are full of exhaustion despite how playful he tries to be.
He averts his eyes "I did." He said looking back down at his laptop.
Why do I get the feeling he's lying to me?
I place both hands on either side of his face and turn him to me "Baby, let me help you." I whisper searching his eyes
Griffin turns his body completely to me before resting his head on my shoulder softly.
"Whatever you're going through...let's do it together. Don't carry all the burden by yourself. We're in this together. For better or for worse, we have each other. Don't do this to yourself, please." I beg him
He wraps his arms around my waist, I smooth my hand over his hair.
"I think you should rest. When you wake up let's talk. Ok?" I reason with him
He remains silent.
"Please, for me?"
He looks up then, he looks even more tired up close. It's hard seeing him like this.
"I'll throw in my lap as your pillow" I negotiate with him
A smile finally stretches from his lips "Ok" he agrees
"And when you wake up, you have to eat this oatmeal ok?"
He seems to think it over.
"Only if you feed it to me." He grins
I kiss his forehead "Of course"
I place the overnight oatmeal back in the fridge before I lead him by his hand to our sofa, I grab a pillow and a blanket. I place the pillow on my lap, Griffin gets in and places his head on it.
"How's your stomach?" He looks up at me, a hand reaches up and gently rubs my hair between his fingers, feeling it.
"They still feel a little uneasy," I said smiling down at him
"We should see a doctor; it could be something serious."
I shake my head
"Please? It'll help make me feel better." He said
I sigh "Alright. But only after you sleep." I said sternly
"So bossy" he smiles up
"So stubborn" I smile back
He buries his face closer to my stomach before closing his eyes "Hmmm bossy and stubborn. What a pair we make"
"The best kind," I respond
He opens his eyes again "I like that. I like that a lot."
"Close your eyes, Griffin. Try and get some rest." I instruct
"Ok, ok. I'm doing it." He closes his eyes once again.
"I love you. " He sneaks it in with his eyes close
I laugh
"I love you too" I respond
Exhaustion takes over not soon after. He drifts into sleep.
His chest rises and falls evenly, and his breathing becomes calm and soothing.
Long dark lashes fan over his eyes, he looks so young in his sleep.
It felt like forever ago we were in high school.
How my heart responds so differently to him then vs now.
I can't imagine a life without him.
I run my hand over his hair, the soft features in his expression.
I smile as I yawn.
I rest my head against the back of the soft sofa.
I have been so tired, lately.
His grandfather was a very exhausting man. I thought as I drift into sleep with my world on my lap.
A sensation of bile rising in my throat woke me up suddenly.
I quickly move Griffin's head before rushing toward the bathroom.
I haven't been able to keep anything down lately. Maybe I'm coming down with a stomach virus.
I gurgle into the sink before brushing my teeth again.
Griffin shuffles into the bathroom with sleep still in his eyes. "Baby, are you ok?" He asks
"I'm ok. I might be coming down with a stomach virus or something." I said wiping my mouth with the towel
Concern in his eyes, he walks back out to the living room "I'm going to make a phone call to my doctor now" he said
I still stand in front of the mirror waiting to see if the sensation comes back.
"Give him about an hour, he's finishing up with his current patient then he'll be on his way," Griffin said
He comes to stand directly behind me, I turn to push at his chest "You could get sick too" I said
"I don't care. Then we'll be sick together." He said wrapping his arms around my waist.
"You lost some weight; you can't seem to keep anything down. I'm so sorry, I should have noticed sooner."
I look up at him "Hey I'm ok. You have a lot on your mind right now."
"That's no excuse. You're my priority." He presses his forehead gently on top of mine
"How are you feeling? Do you think you need to throw up again?"
After a few minutes of waiting for my body's response, I shake my head.
Griffin bends down before lifting me and carrying me in his arms " Good. Where would you like me to take you, princess?" He asks
I giggle into his arms
"The living room. This princess needs to feed her knight some oatmeal."
"Oatmeal it is!" He responds with a grin
He carries me back into our living room before gently placing me on our sofa.
He walks back to the fridge and takes out the overnight oatmeal and grabs a spoon.
"I promise to eat if you promise to lay down." He said when he makes his way back.
I raise one eyebrow. He raises one back.
I sigh in defeat before laying my body down. Griffin pulls the blanket over me and kisses my forehead lightly "I'll wake you up when he's here."
Griffin scoops out a spoonful of the oatmeal, I close my eyes and drift to sleep.
A disembodied laugh in the darkness. I look around quickly, but all I see are smoke and darkness surrounding me.
My body feels cold, I wrap my arms around my body. I see my breath expels from my lips; I shiver harder.
The disembodied laugh gets closer.
I'm scared.
"Hello?" I called out, my voice feels strange
"Who's there?!" I called out again
The laugh continues.
"What do you want?!" I called out
A face suddenly rushes towards me from my left, I scream and stumble backward. I fall to the ground, and the face disappears.
A hand slowly creeps out from the cloak of darkness crawling its way toward me.
Terrified, I quickly scoot back on my hands and feet.
I scream for help.
I place my hand against my throat, but nothing comes out. I tried again, but nothing.
Another hand reaches out from the darkness and claws its way toward me.
My legs shake in fear.
Dark hair peaks out from the darkness, it claws its way harder against the pavement.
I move my hands but my feet don't obey.
I watch in horror as the body gets closer to me.
It wraps its hand around my ankle.
I scream. But nothing comes out.
I'm paralyzed with fear as the body begins to climb up my leg.
"You did this to us." The disembodied voice said
"You'll get what's coming to you." Dark hair reaches to cover its face.
"You have blood on your hands." Shivers run down my spine; I look down at my hands.
Blood covers my hands, it burns.
"You killed her. You'll get what's coming to you." I look back, dark hair gets closer to my face
"No! It was an accident!" I scream
Hair slowly spread revealing a pale white face staring back into mine.
A cruel smile spread from her lips.
She has blood on her own hands.
Shock mimic in her expression.
I stare back into my own pale face.
I'm startled awake.
"Elena, the doctor is here." He looks down at me gently.
Sweats form on my forehead, I look around.
I'm in our living room.
"This is Dr.Hughe, he's going to examine you." Griffin introduces an older man in a white lab coat
The man smiled "it's nice to meet you, Elena. I'm going to perform a few tests if you could bear with me."
I swallow and try to calm my heart rate down.
I nod
"Good. If you don't mind." He reaches out his hand in a gesture and begins his examination.
He takes my vitals before opening up his suitcase and taking out his equipment.
He takes a sample of my blood as well as a urine sample.
He begins putting everything back into his suitcase.
"I will send your blood work to the lab to further run it through a few more tests." Dr. Hughe said
He stops and then looks at both of me and Griffin with a smile.
" Congratulations, you're going to be parents." He said
Griffin covers his mouth in disbelief "Are you sure, Dr.Hughe?!" Griffin asks
"Positive." Dr.Hughe response
Griffin's face breaks out into joy, and he places his hands over his head not sure what to do with them.
He looks up before quickly looking back down, His eyes found mine on the sofa.
He kneels in front of me wraps his arms around my waist and whisper "Thank you" his voice shakes.
I hug him back with joy.