I look at her. Gaze upon my motivation to endure this suffering. My motivation to finish this. Not because she’s my muse, but because I need to finish strong. I have to show her I’m not pathetic. That I can hold my own against her.
She’s now coated in a sheen of sweat. And fuck her for looking that much sexier with it. Her cheeks are flushed, and it only adds to the vision. But her smile, that’s what carries me through the last mile. Her joy in this masochistic torment distracts me enough so that I can finish.
And when we do finish, she checks her watch and smiles widely.
“Ten miles! Sixty-five minutes thirty-two seconds!” She sounds ecstatic, but I can’t focus on anything.
My legs are jelly. I’m shaking all over. My stomach is twisted, and I’m nauseous. My heart is pounding from my head to my feet, and I feel lightheaded. I might pass out.
“My new PR!” She jumps into my arms, and I try to be strong for her, but I can’t. I only manage to hold her for a few seconds before I drop her. My stomach twists.
Oh fuck.
I push her back. I barely make out her cursing me out as I turn and puke in the bushes. As I empty my stomach, I lean on a tree for support. I’m so weak from the run that I’ll fall without it.
I feel her approaching, so I throw my hand out.
“Stay back,” I croak. I know there’s more about to come up, and I don’t want her in the splash zone. Actually, I don’t want her here at all. She shouldn’t be seeing her husband so weak. She needs to always think of me as strong and able to protect her. “Go… away.”
“Fuck off with that shit!” She swats my hand down and comes closer. She places a hand on my back and tentatively rubs it. “What kind of wife would I be if I ran you to the point of puking only to abandon you!”
Her referring to herself as my wife has my heart sputtering. But it’s not enough to make me feel better.
“I don’t want you to see me like this.” I spit after I say it, trying to rid my mouth of the taste.
“Nonsense. I’ve puked from running multiple times in these woods. Nothing to be embarrassed about. Next time we’ll just have to take it slower.” She winks at me as she says it.
Next time?
Next time!
I can’t tell if I’m appalled at the idea of ever having to do that again, or if I’m excited at the prospect of hanging out with my wife again.
“I think I’m done. Puking,” I tell her hoarsely. I start to straighten but wince at the pain in every cell of my body.
“Come on, lean into me.” Katerina hoists my arm over her shoulder. She takes on a majority of my weight as we walk towards the house. I can’t help but revel in her nearness.
My brother’s small wives would never be able to support them like mine can. Margot’s too short, and Cecilia’s too thin and weak. I grin cockily at how I lucked out. If we’re ever in battle, I’d thrive with my Amazonian wife by my side. I can’t say the same for them.
“Where do you want to go?” she asks lightly.
“Our bathroom.” I turn my head away from her as I say it, so she doesn’t get a whiff of vomit-breath.
“Sounds good.” She finally sounds strained, but it pisses me off that it’s because she’s supporting me. I’m being a terrible husband.
She brings me to our bathroom and dumps me on the tub.
“You can take it from here. I’m not washing you. If I didn’t see how horrible at running you are, I’d think you’re doing this on purpose to get naked in front of me again.” She winks as she says it teasingly, so I know she’s joking. I just roll my eyes at her.
As she turns to leave, I grab her wrist.
“Thank you. For taking care of me. I’m sorry I let it get to this point.” I stare into her blue orbs as I say it. I mean it with my full chest. I’m grateful to her.
“It’s nothing. We’ll just build you up to my runs.” She laughs awkwardly then skips out of the bathroom.
When I’m left on my own, I stare at my hands and contemplate my life.
I have a wife. She sasses me and rebels and pushes me to my breaking point. And I love it. My wife has me excited. I’m living again.
