Bound By Bellarmine

f in the pla

down her side, then walked

fine with this, really. I

was open over blue scrubs. A silver chain pressed into

ills. They'll stop

ood. I hate medicine. Don't write

the doctor

rtled. Her face flushed. S

ne euros on me. Might not eve

moved slowly, stiff from bruising. She pu

them from

e. 'Fine. Keep your change. Forg

the prescript

, gave me a half-smile, an

I passed by the cl

ut the form.

ellari. I'm

eyebrow. 'Could've sw

ught th

ked a

und cheeks. Soft jaw. Lips full, too pink. Her las

t the top. Inside were pills, creams, antiseptic sp

pa

ivia kept pace beside me, clutc

d quickly. 'Can I get your number? I'l

ust over there. You

d there, staring. Her lips

at her.

tly, shook her

ove either

't go back to my flat. They might be waiting. I just wanted to sit

ing not to ask too much. She looked imp

the living room. Yo

before she cou

r half a second,

t was s

in the hallway, goggling. Her t

. Everything's so clean.

pers, stepped out of my sho

on't touch anything. That's you

ide. 'I know you didn't ha

ra,' I

hank you,

door, stripped off my clothes

a fresh T-shirt and trousers, t

the sofa. Legs tucked in, hands

ld it be alright if

side my room. 'You don'

and darted o

knew I had issues with hygiene

blanket and a pillow, tossed them onto the sofa, the

t, I held the bu

hower. Change

tated. 'But I just put the ointm

w stuff,' I added, nodding at the toiletri

shed in the bathroom, I went in, wiped the floor dry, scr

quick cycle f

a minute, hovering aw

N

t back

les, collar slipping off one shoulder. Her build

turned off the kitchen

ht, arms folded, staring at

is i

I can't reach my back. Th

lked

, worn at the edges. Her skin was pale, tinged grey under the light. Bruises

ar and started

, something medicinal-but I didn

ere with her spine stiff and h

tepped back. 'You can

'll get dirty. I'll

ar into the drawer. 'Keep it