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Henry opens his eyes to a room still shrouded in darkness. He fumbles for his phone on the nightstand and squints at the bright screen with a grimace.
Five in the morning.
On some days, he does intentionally wake up early to write. But he went to bed at three last night. He has an important meeting at the shelter this morning. Now is not the time to drain his mental energy at the desk.
He wants to go back to his dreams, but it’s hard. The blue light and mental analysis have already jolted his brain half-awake.
He pulls the blanket over his shoulders and tries to sleep through the warmth. Soon, he feels too hot and throws it off. This back-and-forth continues as he tosses and turns.
Sod off. Why not go to the kitchen and make coffee for Alex? It's a crucial week for his case. He’ll need caffeine— As Henry is about to get up, Alex suddenly turns. He reaches out and wraps an arm around Henry, pulling him and his blanket into a firm embrace.
The thing is, they have been married for years. They are no longer as naive as they once were. Time has taught them to give each other space. They value their marriage over showy displays of intimacy.
For instance, sharing one double blanket often leads to one person getting cold when the other steals the covers. Instead of battling in the middle of the night, they have separate blankets for the best comfort.
Also, they accept that it’s normal to have trouble sleeping sometimes. Instead of questioning each other or rushing to fix their partner’s insomnia, they offer a hug without a word.
Alex’s eyes are still closed. Even half-asleep, his arms around Henry are strong and steady. His hand, gently stroking Henry's back, is light and tender. The combination gives Henry an absolute sense of security. He recalls his father holding him close to soothe him after nightmares woke him.
Henry closes his eyes and, without realizing it, drifts back into a warm slumber.
“You shall sleep, love. You haven’t been sleeping well these past few weeks. It’s time to pay off that sleep debt,” Henry insists.
“But it’s only ten!” Alex protests, unwilling to give in. “Such a waste to sleep so early!”
“We’ve done everything we need today. We’ve cleaned the house, fixed the flickering light under the stairs, taken David for a walk in the park, and celebrated your court victory at your favorite Mexican restaurant.”
Alex groans with puppy-dog eyes as Henry pulls up the blanket, covering him and gesturing for him to lie down. He refuses to cooperate, resulting in the blanket covering only his legs. Henry raises his eyebrows disapprovingly and glares at him.
“Sleeping Beauty’s prince wakes her up. Why does my prince only tell me to go to sleep?” Alex pouts like a spoiled child, unaware that this is a futile struggle.
“I never doubt my knight’s prowess. However, after tonight's encounters by the foyer credenza, living room couch, kitchen island, and bathroom countertop, I don’t believe he can rise to the occasion anymore,” Henry retorts.
“Haven’t you noticed we’re missing one crucial battlefield? The bed we’re on right now—”
“Sleep,” Henry commands, his hand pressing Alex’s shoulder like a sword knighting him and pushing him into the mattress. In a deep voice, Henry adds, “Now.”
Alex has always been defenseless against Henry’s princely authority. He opens his mouth and tries to quip, but Henry’s hand covers his eyes, and his lips seal Alex’s with a chaste kiss. Alex thinks he can counter back, but Henry’s entire body presses down on him like a weighted blanket. Relaxing in his husband’s tight embrace, Alex suddenly realizes just how tired he truly, actually is...
Henry’s fingers thread through his curls and massage his scalp with the right amount of pressure.
And with that, Alex drifts off into a peaceful oblivion.