This story was previously submitted in the "Romance" category, but nobody read it. It's too hot to die a quiet death and I hope you agree.
People at the airport thought I'd been drinking. I hadn't, but I can't blame them for thinking that. I had stubble on my face, I staggered and I'd been working six days round the clock to straighten out some problems on an offshore oil-drilling rig created by a Malaysian Toolpusher who didn't know shit, but had an uncle in politics on the Company Board.
I fought back tears when I spotted my smiling Claire waving at the gate. I was that tired. I don't normally tear up, but maybe ten hours sleep in six days brings you back to what's important. And Claire was important. I hugged her and ran my hand up and down her back. I couldn't tell her how much I thought about her as I looked across a dark ocean at night; how she was always in my thoughts as I drifted off to sleep on a couch; how her enthusiasm for everything from raking leaves to roller-blading was so appreciated and so much part of the picture of her in my mind. So I just said "I'm so glad to see you" and blew my nose.
"Allergies?"
"Every time I see you."
She squeezed my hand and guided me to the car. I promptly fell asleep in mid-sentence. I don't know if it was her sentence or mine, but it didn't matter.
We got home and I got to do something I'd been dreaming about for days: sleep. I tossed my clothes in the hamper and all cares aside for the next 13 hours. When I awoke it was 11:30 am Thursday. The house was quiet. Claire was at work and wouldn't be home for six hours. My mind said "Get up!" but my body said "What for?" so I pulled a blind and went back to sleep.
The sound of my garage door opener roused me hours later and I was rubbing my eyes when Claire walked in.
"I can't believe you're still in bed! Have you been sleeping all this time?"
"Yuuup" I replied in my best Gary Cooper voice.
"I woke up once but my body was still aching so I went back to sleep."
Didn't you sleep at all on the rig?
"I'd nap for a half-hour at a time when I could squeeze it in, but that's yesterday. Come sit by me and let me run my hands through your hair and smell that sweet perfume."