Hatchetfield.

The guide to life, a book by Emma Perkins and Paul Matthews

"No I'm serious Nora, I don't feel well" Emma half screamed half sighed into the phone, she was currently on the phone calling in sick to work and Nora her shitty boss was being a bitch like usual.

"I don't care Emma you are coming in, you're probably making it up anyway" came the response from the other side, Emma sighed and reluctantly began to make her way out of bed still on the phone to Nora.

"Can I at least have an early mark" Emma began to say but the last part didn't really make its way out, instead the sound of vomiting made its way through to Nora's side.

"Alright fine, I don't want this" was all Nora could say before hanging up, Emma had dropped the phone at this point and was lurching hard into the toilet for the second time that day.

Paul had overheard the ruckus and had rushed into the bathroom, he was now sitting on the floor as well rubbing little circles on Emma's back while also moving little baby hairs out of her face.

"You okay?" Was all he could say, to which Emma only responded with a small groan.

Paul got up and began to leave the small bathroom.

"Wait where are you going?" Emma desperately called out.

She knew he had to go to get ready for work but she wanted him there to comfort her for the most amount of time that he could.

"I'm going to go call in sick to work" Paul responded making Emma's heart swell, though that wasn't the only emotion inside of her, along with it came guilt and worry. She knew it was important for him to go to work and he only had so many sick days available.

"No, you need to go" she eventually worked up the courage to say.

"What, why?" Paul responded partly confused, partly sad that she didn't want him to stay home with her.

Emma could read his face like a book and felt bad but it didn't stop the guilt of keeping him here just for her benefit, so she explained.

"I want you here with me, more than anything, but I know it is important for you to go and you only have so many sick days."

Paul felt much better at that response but still was unsure what to do.

Eventually they came to a decision and Emma was back in bed, Paul tucking her in.

He was going to go to work still but he had plans to come home slightly earlier if he could.

Paul was about to leave the room for the last time but thought quickly of what he could do for Emma.

"Would you like me to get you anything to eat?" Paul asked.

Emma thought for a second, "Uhhh some blueberry pancakes sound really good right now"

Both of them seemed a bit shocked at her response. It was a weird answer coming from Emma. She had strong opinions on blueberry pancakes.

To her, blueberries were delicious and pancakes were delicious but together they were both ruined.

Paul eventually was able to bounce back from the shock and the image of the fridge bounced into his head, but he could see no blueberries.

"I don't think we have any blueberries, is plain fine?" He regretfully told her.

Emma shrugged "I guess so, blueberry pancakes just sound so good right now"

Paul watched as she slid back down in bed and sighed with content, off he went to make pancakes.

Emma ate the pancakes very quickly, practically gulping down the food and with that need covered and no work to go to, she quickly fell back asleep.

That was the last sight Paul saw of Emma before he left. He tried to keep that image in his mind the whole time he was writing his weekly reports at work, to keep him from going insane.