As the sun slowly rose, casting its first rays across the city, Katherine awoke feeling slightly less queasy than she had the night before. Her stomach still churned with the remnants of the greasy takeout she'd consumed, but the nausea that had plagued her all night long seemed to be subsiding. She pushed herself upright, groaning softly as her head throbbed in protest.
She glanced over at the figure lying next to her, their features obscured in the pre-dawn darkness. She knew who it was, of course; they were always there when she needed them. A low, involuntary groan escaped her lips as she recalled what they'd had to endure last night. Her farts had been particularly...eggy, and she could still smell the faint tang of sulfur in the air.
Katherine forced herself up onto her feet, wincing as her head spun from the motion. She stumbled over to the window, pulling back the curtains to let in a faint stream of light. As her eyes adjusted to the change, she saw the little black link on her phone blinking insistently.
"Morning, Katherine," came the familiar voice of her manager, Jenny. "I hope you managed to get some rest."
"I...uh, I'm okay," she lied, hoping to sound more convincing than she felt. "What's on the agenda for today?"
"Well, we've got a photoshoot scheduled for this afternoon," Jenny replied. "Nothing too strenuous; just some casual outfit shots. You know how it goes."
"Yeah, got it," Katherine muttered noncommittally. She glanced over at the figure on the bed, still lying motionless in the faint morning light. "I, uh, might need some help getting ready," she added hesitantly.
"Of course, Katherine," Jenny replied, her tone switching to one of concern. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just...not feeling great," Katherine admitted. "But I'll be fine. I just need someone to make sure I don't, you know, make a mess or anything."
"I understand," Jenny replied, her voice gentle. "I'll send someone over to your place right away."
Katherine ended the call, her mind already spinning with worry. She glanced back over at the figure on the bed, wondering if they were even awake yet. They were going to have to deal with her morning farts, of course—that was part of their job—but she hated to think of how sick they must be feeling right now.
With a sigh, she made her way over to the bed, kneeling down beside it. She nudged the figure gently, hoping they'd wake up before she had to really make contact.
"Hey," she whispered, her voice rough with exhaustion. "Wake up, sweetheart."
The figure groaned, rolling over to face away from her. Katherine sighed, reaching out to gently shake their shoulder. "Come on, love," she coaxed. "We need to get you up."
Finally, with a grunt of effort, the figure rolled over, blinking blearily at the bright morning light. Katherine's heart clenched at the sight of their pale, drawn face. They looked like death warmed over, and she hated herself for putting them through this.
"Morning, sunshine," she said, forcing a smile onto her own face. "Ready for another day of serving your queen?"
The figure managed a weak smile in response, but Katherine could see the exhaustion etched into their features. She knew they were only pretending to be strong for her, and it broke her heart a little more each time.
"You know the drill," she said, standing up and leaving the room. She could hear the figure trailing behind her, padding softly across the hardwood floor. She knew they were coming, of course—they always did—but she couldn't bring herself to look back at them yet.
In the kitchen, Katherine set about preparing some breakfast for herself. She was still queasy from the night before, but she knew she had to eat something. As she fumbled with the eggs, her guts churning ominously, she could feel the figure approaching from behind.
"Here you go, Katherine," they murmured, holding out a glass of water. Katherine took it gratefully, downing half of it in one gulp. The icy water helped to cool her feverish skin, but it did nothing to quell the nausea that still clenched at her insides.
She forced herself to focus on the task at hand, cracking eggs into a bowl and whisking them furiously while the figure stood watch. Finally, after what felt like hours, she was able to force down a few bites of dry toast. The taste was bitter on her tongue, but she didn't care; she just needed something in her stomach.
As she ate, she could feel the familiar warmth spreading through her abdomen. It was the same sensation she'd felt countless times before, but it was somehow more intense this time. She knew what was coming, and she braced herself for it.
"Katherine," the figure whispered, their voice heavy with concern. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she lied, her voice shaking just a little. "Just a little...gassy."
The figure nodded, their eyes wide with understanding. They knew what that meant; they'd been there before. They reached out a hand, wordlessly offering support, and Katherine took it gratefully.
Together, they made their way to the bathroom, where Katherine collapsed onto the toilet seat. The figure stood behind her, their warmth like a shield against the chill of the morning air. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths as she waited for the impending storm to pass.
And then it hit her, like a wave crashing against the shore. The room filled with the sickly-sweet stench of rotten eggs, and Katherine's stomach heaved violently in response. She retched and shook, her whole body convulsing with the force of her body's betrayal.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the fit subsided. Katherine opened her eyes, wiping the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. The figure was still there, their face pale but their eyes fixed on hers, full of concern and love.
"Thank you, my love," she whispered, leaning back against their chest. "Thank you for always being there for me."
The figure wrapped their arms around her, holding her close as they had so many times before. Together, they made it through another day.
