The Adventures of Harry and Me (H.S.)

An Act of Pure Love

"Daddy!!" I hear Grace squeal as she gets up off the couch, and I clench my teeth at the movement. Her feet slap hard against the floor as she runs towards the front door. Harry just walked in from a morning meeting, and I take a deep breath, thankful he is home.

"Hey, Bug. What'cha doin?" Harry says cheerfully to his little one.

"I watch a moo-bie with Bob and mum. We do face mask? Mumma say no." Grace explains to Harry.

"No face masks? Why not?" I can hear the worry in his voice as he talks to our daughter. His running shoes squeak against our floor as he makes his way into the family room.

"I dunno. I fink her sick." A tear rolls down my cheek smoothly as I hear my daughter explain that she knows I'm not feeling well.

"Let's go see what's going on." Harry tells Grace. The squeak of his shoes stops as he enters the family room. Grace runs and jumps back in her spot on the couch and I tense up, bracing my body for the shifting of the sofa.

"How was your meeting?" I ask, my eyes making contact with my husband's as he squats down to my level. The crinkle between his eyebrows is there out of worry, and his eyes are soft and full of love and protection.

"Good. What's goin on, Darling? Feeling ill?" Harry places his hand on my forehead, checking to see if I have a fever. I shake my head no, sucking in a breath as I feel the pain get worse when Grace starts jumping on the sofa with excitement. "Gracie bug, can you run upstairs and grab your shoes? Let's call Auntie Gem and see if she wants to get a face mask? How does that sound?"

"A spa day?" Jumping on her bum, she bounces off the couch, landing on her two feet. Her eyes are wide with excitement, and it makes me smile a little. "I get nas-asge??"

"Sure. Go grab your shoes." Harry smiles at Grace as she grabs Bob, taking him upstairs with her to get ready for her special spa outing. "Is it your back, baby?"

"Mmmhmmm." I reply. My emotions spill over, and I begin to sob. Harry reaches forward, brushing the tears away from my cheeks. Taking a few deep breaths I begin to calm down enough to talk. "Started my period this morning. I really don't feel good. Just want to be held. I'm sorry babe. I really am, but I just... don't....feel....good."

"Hey, shhhh. Don't apologize. I'm here, okay? I'll hold you. Have you called Dr. Brown?" I nod my head yes, letting him know that I spoke with our family physician.

"Made an appointment for tomorrow." I whisper.

"Okay, good. I'm gonna go check on Grace, make sure she isn't doing something she shouldn't. Will you be okay for a moment?" I nod my head. "Let me call Gem and start the shower. Please don't move. Just stay there; give me a couple of minutes." Harry's rambles end with a kiss on my head before he stands; his lips feel warm and comforting against my skin, and it causes the tears in my eyes to fall down my cheeks, creating new paths with each drop of water.

I close my eyes, and curl more into a ball as I try to ignore the pain that is consuming my body. My periods have always been bad, but since Grace's birth they are unbearable. The pain that comes from my Endometriosis is constantly there, but when I have a period, the suffering is a million times worse. My body feels as if it's being torn apart like a tiger's dinner. Endometriosis affects everyone differently; the pain can be in a unique location or varying intensity. My ache spans from hip to hip and is extremely bad in my lower back. Most days I can push through the pain, but today I don't have the strength, and I can't fight it on my own.

Harry's feet pound against the stairs as he makes his way into the kitchen with Grace. I can hear her feet slapping against the floor as she follows her father.