It feels good.
I feel safe.
I love you.
No.
I can’t talk right now.
There’s something about being vulnerable—compromised—about bearing the weight of something all on your own for so long and then having someone else come in and take the other end of the yoke from your shoulders that makes a person feel even more exposed.
And I don’t do vulnerable.
"How are you doing?" Polina asks. “Scale of one to ten, where’s the pain at now?"
"Seven," I whisper.
"Good. That’s good. We’ll get you down to at least a two or three by the end of the afternoon."
"Two or three?" Matvei growls as if personally offended. "How about zero?"
"I’m not a magician," she says with a smirk. "Just a dropout midwifery student."
I smile. "You did good for a dropout."
"Thanks, sis," she says, smiling back at me. “Don’t ask me to deliver your baby.”
I look away. I’m crying over everything these days.
"Okay, let’s get you to the bath," Polina says.
My cheeks flush with embarrassment.
I’m a sticky mess, but Matvei doesn’t care.
He bends down, lifts me into his arms, sheets tangled all around me, and carries me to the bathroom.
He jerks his head at the door, and Polina leaves.
"I can stay a little longer if you need me," she says.
"Thank you."
He stands me in front of the tub, and the sheets fall to the floor. I’m naked beneath it.
Wordlessly, he lifts me, gently settling me into the warm water.
It feels good.
I lay my head back and close my eyes.
A few seconds later, there’s the sound of a splash.
I look up and see him, naked, climbing into the tub with me.
I open my mouth, but before I can speak…
"Little witch, for fuck’s sake, let me take care of you."
