Sick Song

I stayed under the blankets Drifting through sleep Not really awake Heat trapped in my chest Sheets damp My body heavy in that way Where moving feels impossible You called And I reached for the phone Right away I didn't just let it ring Because I knew You’d be there The stream started Soft light against the wall A game already moving Like you didn’t want the room To stop I kept my eyes half-closed Listened to buttons Menus Footsteps Something steady Holding time in place There was care In how close it felt Even with miles between us In how the night didn’t press in The way it usually does You didn’t need my attention You just stayed near Fever came and went I pulled the blankets tighter Then pushed them down again My skin couldn’t decide What it wanted Every time I shifted The sound was still there The screen still glowing Like you were sitting At the edge of the bed Without touching me I drifted Woke up Drifted again Each time checking Without opening my eyes Still playing Still running Still with me Your movements slowed As the hours stretched thin I could hear it In the way the stream lingered Between inputs I knew you were tired And you stayed anyway Not out of obligation Just because you were already there And that felt like being held When the call finally ended I didn’t notice right away The room stayed warm The bed stayed steady I fell asleep With the screen light fading And the quiet Not hurting Because you’d been with me The whole time I love you