"I don't think so. Might pop a stitch," she said quietly. She didn't know if he knew how bad off she was, but she was going to have scars and she had stitches. The doctor had told her that it was nothing deadly, just shallow cuts that were meant to hurt.

"Tereus, I..." she started, then stopped abruptly. She wasn't even sure what she wanted to say. What she needed to say. What she should say...and what she should keep quiet.

"I'll be okay, you know. You don't have to worry."