The Necklace

CORA

I stood in front of the mirror, my eyes thin. I had scars all over my back and shoulders, and I swallowed, my eyes closing. Keanne was asleep, the house dim, and I grabbed the robe and wore it back, my chest lightly heaving with anger.

Slowly, I walked back to the room. Keanne was on the phone, and I stopped, listening. I couldn't tell what he was talking about, and I slowly went to him, then lay beside him. He gave me a small smile, then turned away.

I sought his fingers, and he let me take it. For a while, we just stayed like that, till he finally got off the phone.

"How do you feel?"

I swallowed. "Hideous."

"Hideous?" He moved, his eyes meeting mine.

I do sometimes wonder if this would have been the same a year ago. If he would treat me like this had he not had to wait for me. But I didn't want to think about it. Neither did I want to think about anything at all.

"Well. The scars are everywhere."

"You will be fine," he said, kissing my forehead. "I will be here."

I nodded, the