Sacrosanct Coffee And Beloved

20260728

Prompt from Eiiri’s Prompt Foundry, “Pride 2 Disability Boogaloo”.

Luis slowly stretched, taking stock of his body, particularly his stomach. Everything seemed… as well as could be hoped for, the day after chemo.
Only once he was confident in his capacity did he pick up his phone, to answer the message he knew would be waiting: [Morning, love! :* Where should we have coffee today?]
A glance at the weather app showed it was warm but breezy. He decided [How about the conservatory?]
Setting the phone aside, he stood up - slowly. Carefully. This was the point he really found out what state his body was in. But, while various parts of him objected, some eloquently, he got upright without any concerning moments. A good sign.
Ah, he missed the days where getting dressed, or even grabbing a shower, first thing was perfectly doable. Normal. Perhaps he’d manage it later. For now, well, with it being nice and warm these pyjamas were enough for comfort.
Phone buzzed. Reply from Zoe. [Sounds good! How’s your tummy?]
[I think I’m going to be on MRS today. But not too nauseous.]
Thank goodness for those meal replacement shakes. It was rare he couldn’t get them down, though sometimes he had to drink it very slowly. He was having enough trouble keeping weight up as it was.
[Oh good! I already had breakfast so you don’t need to worry about smells. :* ]
[Thanks, love :* ]
He pocketed the phone and headed downstairs. Moving slow and steady. Stairs in particular tended to kick off the aches.
By the time he reached the downstairs hall the scent of coffee was wafting. The one smell his body still properly responded to. He breathed in deep.
Funny how things changed. Back before… all this… it’d been him running the coffee machine, because not working from home meant he needed to be up twenty minutes before Zoe. He always made sure to leave her morning bevvy at her place in the breakfast nook. And on the weekends she made a point of doing the same for him. Just… one of those couple things.
It’d been partway through the first year of struggling with his cancer that they belatedly realised all those little couple things had quietly faded away. She was now so busy, he was so tired, both of them caught up in the unpleasant situation which loomed over their lives.
That was when morning coffee became sacrosanct. She took a half-hour break, he choose wherever best suited him that day - which was sometimes sitting in bed - and they spent the time talking about anything that wasn’t practicalities.
No asking about work, or when his next doctor visit was, or any household matters. Those could all be discussed any other time of day. Morning coffee was about them.
What podcasts he was listening to. How her biking was going. Movies they might enjoy watching together. Even planning date nights. Generally small, subdued dates, compared to what they used to plan. The sort of outings which would once have been spontaneous, back before his ability to be spontaneous was devoured by the malignant mass in his prostate.
But. They managed it. Dinner out, when he was feeling well and could enjoy food. Trips to the local theatre. Walks.
And, even on the worst days, when he couldn’t get out of bed… there was the morning coffee slot. Zoe cherished it just as hard as he did. A bolstering anchor of normal. The perfect example of what they were trying to save.
He always told himself that, one day, it’d be him running the coffee machine again. Though, he’d be sore tempted to see if they could somehow keep this tradition going, even after he was recovered and back at work. It made for such a beautiful start to the day.
Speaking of beautiful…
“Morning, love!” Zoe beamed from where she was sat at the breakfast nook. Waiting for the machine to finish.
“Morning, love.” Luis stooped to kiss her. “You look gorgeous. That top really suits you.”
“Aw, thanks.” She reached up and gently smoothed his hair straight. “Did you sleep alright? You’re looking much better than yesterday.”
“Hm. Fairly well? I’ll tell you for sure in an hour.”
Luis grabbed a ready-made shake from the fridge while she started getting the coffee things together.
“Feel up to cream?”
“I think so. I should be fine for any toppings.”
And hey, since he now had the surreal issue of needing to sneak in extra calories wherever he could…
Besides, it let Zoe get all artsy with the coffee presentation. She’d always loved turning drinks into art. Not only pouring the cream to make patterns, but cocoa dusting, doodling with syrups, even whipping stuff into the cream… While he’d never really got the appeal, and if left to his own devices would happily just splash some dairy in and call it good, watching her bubbling over with creative joy was an endless delight.
Certainly worth drinks taking a few extra minutes.
Sure enough, she eagerly mused “Ooh, since we’re going to be looking out at the garden, let me try those flower stencils you got me!”
“Oh, yes, to go with the coloured sugar you found. Shall I get that out?”
“Yes please!”
Luis smiled softly as he opened the cupboard.
Liquid ready meals. Good coffee. Whimsical art supplies. And, most crucially of all, time spent being happy with your beloved.
It was the small, precious things which gave you the strength to press on.

Prompt was “Maintenance”.