Sick

My cat was no longer a comfort to my weary body as she lay at the foot of my bed, her bulbous bulk pressing against my sweating ankles. Her 16 pounds are formidable on a good night, but the oozing pressure of lard, flesh, and fur was surely going to quicken my impending death by fever and stuffy nose.

I moved my legs away from the unrelenting pressure. An irritated yowl, followed by a noise from my cat's throat that could only be interpreted by a sane person as a death threat, reminded me of my precarious position as 'owner.' I tried not to move for the rest of the night.
~
Morning came. My cramped legs stretched tentatively. Blush was no longer there, lured away by the promise of food and a sunny back porch for bird watching.

My feet somehow found the floor. The Pergo was cold and a bit sticky from the morning humidity. It felt good, as long as I didn't try to walk. Then my inner ear showed its anger, its vengeance on me for catching such a vile virus, as fluid shifted and I found myself swaying towards my mattress and all the comfort that it entailed. Just a few more hours of sleep.

But no, there were things to do this morning. I pressed on, bending over and touching the pale floor with slightly bent knees. I straightened them to a symphony of popping.

A wriggle of my hips. Pop.

A few more plies and straightenings. Pop, snap... crackle.

Roll up through the back and the resistant neck. Big pop.

Now prepared, I slowly journeyed towards the oncoming day, the flesh of my thighs feeling like loosely attached jello swinging about my femurs.

The couch. Under normal circumstances, an ordinary piece of furniture. A lovely if unassuming forest green, as usual as a chenille couch could be.
Ah, but today, this couch was more that an upgrade from Ikea. Today, this couch would be my helpmate, my strength. I would find the inner resistance to the loathsome bacteria consuming my body and defeat it soundly. I would get all of my reading done, two books before lunchtime. There would be time and energy to do stomach exercises and further stretch my aching body. Fever be damned! The couch and I would defeat any obstacle!

Meooooooow.

I looked down. Blush lay there beside the couch, her tail flicking towards me then away, petulance in every movement.

"Oh Blush." My words came out somewhat slurred.

With a launch of her swaying haunches, she settled none too gracefully on my chest and settled in for a nap.