"Greeeeg!" He looked up as soon as Mitch called, walking in when he called again "Greeeeeeeg!" He was vomiting now. "Gre-" He  lost the words in another retch so Greg dropped down to him and rubbed his back.

"Wait there I'm gonna get something" He smiled when Mitch held his arm to stop him leaving. "Baby I have to check your temperature. Just let me get the thermometer ok?" He went to the kitchen and opened the first aid cupboard, turning around as Mitch stumbled in before darting to the bin. He dropped to his knees and hurled into the bag. Greg went over to him "Mitchie! I told youth stay in the bathroom! I was only across the hall babe" He grabbed a flannel to wipe Mitch's mouth. Taking a tissue he wiped his eyes. "Baby, why're you crying?" Salty streaks of water dripped down his cheeks when Mitch hurled again. "Mitchie, come here" Greg pulled him forward after wiping his mouth, massaging Mitch's back and kissing his cheek. "Huh? Could you repeat that babe?" The words he got back made him dumb for a second 

"This is why he left!" Matthew had left him suddenly but Mitch had never explained why.

"Mitchie that makes no sense" 

"I always get sick on this date" He nodded at the Calendar before hurling again. Greg let it sink in. Today was the anniversary of a day Mitch would rather forget. Back in the first few weeks of university, Andy Freest had died from the bad timing of a wet floor and a falling beaker of H2SO4. Mitch had been five inches from her when she screamed. It was replayed on the local news every year as part of a PSA. Every time Mitch remembered it he would hurl. Matthew thought he was a melodramatic freak and left him. "Five inches from her Greg! I wasn't in time!" He heard her screams and hurled again. Greg wiped his mouth and lifted him to his feet, setting him on the counter to rub his arms. 

"Baby everyone was too late. You're not being dramatic but no one could have helped." He kissed him gently and smiled to reassure him "I could never leave my Mitchie" He pulled Mitch onto his lap and massaged his shoulders while kissing his cheeks. He soothed him all day and soothed him again every year. Mitch nestled against his chest and kissed Greg half breathless.

"Thank you Geek" He watched Greg laugh and boom his nose

"Nerd" Mitch smiled and hugged him.

"My Heart"