by Sydney Lane
“No. I don’t feel anything. It’s not that. It’s just…” I struggled to find the right words, but decided there was only one thing I wanted to say. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” he replied then kissed my lips timidly as if he were afraid to hurt me. His hesitancy made me curious.
“How’s my leg?” I asked. I stared at him. Suddenly, a mild expression froze on his face.
“It’s better,” he said a bit too calmly.
“Can I see it?” I pushed. I started to lift the blanket, but Jem stopped me.
“Not right now. It’s wrapped up anyway.” I thought of the picture I saw once of a third degree burn in a health book and shivered. Ghastly, horrifyingly raw, charred flesh. The memory made my skin crawl and my weak stomach flipped and rolled. I couldn’t keep the grimace off my face. Jem pressed a little red button at the end of a white chord. It must have been a dose of pain medication because I felt the effects instantly. My whole body went numb under the blanket.
“Rest,” Jem instructed, but I shook my head.
“No,” I slurred. “Miss you.”
“I’ll be here when you wake up, Joanne. Now, rest.” As the medication spread throughout my body, I realized I was fighting a losing battle.
“You win,” I conceded, smiling a bit as a strange feeling of euphoria settled over me. I suddenly didn’t care if I couldn’t see my burn or that I even had one. Jem tucked the blanket back up around my chest, then his fingertips brushed lightly over my lips. I fought to keep my eyes open, to keep them locked on the man who had become my whole world, but they closed against my will.
“Sleep now,” Jem whispered. His soft voice was warm and comforting.
“You need to sleep too. Come to bed,” I commanded drowsily. Part of me knew I wasn’t in our bedroom in the cabin, that this small bed wasn’t meant for two, but the other part of me was cozy at home and wanted Jem by my side. I heard him chuckle softly as I slipped back into a drug-induced slumber.
