"Does it still hurt? Shall we go to the doctor?"
"No need." I touched James' hand and shook my head. "It doesn't hurt anymore. I just need to put some gel on it to make the marks disappear."
James let out a rough breath. I could tell he was still angry about what happened. Even when we had arrived home, he didn't stop noticing my flushed cheeks. Maria had slapped me so hard with her big hand that it had left a mark on my cheek.
"I can't forgive her. Maria always does whatever she wants and I tried to hold back because she's my sister, but now, I really can't take it anymore." James chuckled softly, the inflamed resentment coming to the surface again.
I squeezed James' hand and rested my head on his shoulder. I stroked his sweat-dampened chest, then my hands rested on his strong neck.
"I know you're very upset by Maria's actions. I feel the same way, but I don't want you to dwell on it like this," I said, worried that James would be plagued with anxiety every day. "How about you take a
