I looked up. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, weak face, completely drained of color.
The third showed me, alone, in a dark corner.
Loneliness and insecurity clung to me, threatening to consume me.
Because I realized no one loved me.
Suddenly, a torch lit up at the other end of that corner.
I was so cold, I instinctively burrowed towards it.
And slipped into a warm, comforting embrace.
I heard a lullaby, and a pair of broad hands wrapped around me, gently patting my back.
When I woke up, Arthur was no longer in bed. Even the bedding beneath me had been changed, and a towel was placed under my waist – stained with blood!
<
My period had started.
I walked to the bathroom, only to find Arthur there, washing the sheets. His bear paws were vigorously scrubbing the bloodstains.
Arthur looked flustered, a faint blush on his face.
“I–I… I didn’t change your clothes without your permission, but I was afraid you’d be uncomfortable, so I changed the bedding for you to sleep
on.”
He thought for a moment, then gently pushed me into the bathroom.
“Go change into clean clothes so you’ll be more comfortable. Don’t touch the ones you take off; I’ll wash them for you.”
Then he “thump–thump–thumped off to the kitchen to busy himself.
By the time I came to my senses, I was already lying on the sofa, sipping the ginger tea he’d brewed, watching this big bear with a straight face washing my blood–stained underwear.
k of last
I couldn’t help but think of last night’s dream, feeling a strange sense of magic.
Arthur’s large bear paw settled gently on stomach, rubbing slow, soothing circles.
