Page 42 of Soulmateless
Immediately following her words, I quickly stick the needle in so it's going through both sides of the wound. Clara yelps. My body shudders.
Shit! I just put a needle in someone's skin!
I pull the needle out, the thread following it through. Clara sucks air through her teeth. My heart thuds like it's war drums, I squeeze my eyes shut and draw in a few deep breaths. “I just stuck a needle through someone's flesh… I did that…”
“See? I knew you couldn't stomach it.”
I catch my breath suddenly, opening my eyes to her smirk. I snort a laugh. “Well, you seem happy enough for me to keep going.” I will get this done.
“If you'll even last.” She rolls her eyes and looks forward again.
I continue stitching, my grip getting steadier with each one. I keep whispering reassurances to distract myself from the fact I've weaving a thread through someone's skin. “I'm doing this right… that looks good… I got this…”
I eventually finish the stitch and tie a small knot at the end. Pulling up a photo of my practice stitch, I glance between the two to compare.
It looks right, I think…
“Does it feel alright?” I ask Clara.
She remains quiet. She glances over her shoulder and my heart skips at the chance I might have done it horribly wrong.
“It feels like it should,” she mumbles in defeat.
I smile at her. “You see? It's okay to let someone help you.”
“You haven't done all the wounds yet. You have no room to talk.”
I shrug as I move onto the next wound, then the next, then the next, gaining confidence with each one. Clara sucks air through her teeth and winces but otherwise remains silent.
My affirmations to relax myself become attempts to calm Clara down. “We got this… You're good… I got you…”
She nods quickly as she lies down. I’m working on the biggest wound slashed across her stomach. The last one. I'm almost done.
Another stitch and she bares her teeth again. "Fuck," she curses under her breath.
“You're okay…” I soothe. “We’re almost done… I finally get to the last stitch and tie the knot. Drawing my head back a little, I do one last look to make sure it looks okay. "Does it feel alright?"
She sits up and examines the stitch herself. After a moment of silence, she nods. “It's perfect…”
I sigh in relief and then smirk her way “You see? I said I'd get them all done!”
“Yes, you did…” She lowers her head. “You won that one.”
“Now I can leave knowing that your wounds aren't gonna end up infected tomorrow.” I offer a gentle smile. “I just wanted to make sure that you'd end up okay. It has nothing to do with the bet or deal we made.”
She snickers a little before finally meeting my eyes. “I was being an asshole when you just wanted to help.” She twists her smirk. “I'm sorry.”
“All is forgiven.” I reach a hand on her shoulder. “Just as long as you're okay.” I chuckle a little.
She keeps eye contact with me, her shoulders relaxing with a sigh. “There has to be something I can do for repayment.”
“I already told you. That was repayment.”
“No, it's not. It's just another thing I owe you for. There must be something I can do.”
“How about you just stay happy and make a good life for yourself? Deal?” I reach out my hand to shake on it.
She shoos it away. “Has to be in benefit to you.”
