I live with my girlfriend and we both work full time. The last couple of days my girlfriend said she thinks she’s coming down with a cold. Normally when I get the flu or a cold I don’t get it too badly so I’m pretty much done so it doesn’t bother me.

This year however, I’ve been placed on immunosuppressive medication for an auto immune disease so I’m at high risk of infections and I’m likely to get very sick when I get ill.

My girlfriend started feeling worse yesterday so I told her I was sleeping on the sofa. I said I can’t risk being too close to her since I can’t risk becoming ill.

She got annoyed and said she wanted to cuddle up in bed as she wasn’t feeling great. I apologised but told her that if she passes the illness onto me then I’d be a lot worse than she is.

She said she doesn’t want to sleep on her own and she wants me there. I told her she’s not taking my condition seriously and her wanting to cuddle me in bed isn’t more important than my health.

She said I was being harsh to her when she’s sick but I just told her she’s willing to risk my health. She said I’ll probably be okay but I told her I’m not risking it. I said I’ll be keeping my distance while she’s ill.

She asked what happens if the flu gets worse and she’s stuck in bed. She asked if I would get her food, drinks etc. I said I wouldn’t be able to anyway as I’d be at work.

She said I’m not being caring but I just repeated that I’m not risking getting ill.

AIW for sleeping on the sofa?