“Whatever.”
There was a short pause before a set of feet shuffled closer to me. Then, a form sat on the bed, right beside me.
“Hey, Asher.” A gentle hand ran along my back. “It’s okay, now.”
Now? That didn’t sound good.
I squinted an eye open, the other not wanting to open at all.
What the hell happened?
“Do you remember what happened last night?”
I didn’t move, afraid that the pain would arise if I did anything more than what I was currently doing.
“I’m assuming you don’t. I didn’t when...yeah....” Erik turned away for a second, hiding the shame of whatever happened to me. “Anyhow,” he cleared his throat. “You’ll be sore for about three to five days. Your services won’t be required for at least that amount of time, too. The longer you play the part of being too sore, the longer you’ll get off.” The last part was whispered to where I barely heard him. “You also won’t be left alone. I’ve...requested to be the one to care for you for at least the next couple of days since I’ve been there. Mr. S said it was okay, but...Will is being a dick.”
“He...” I breathed, feeling parts of my body ache in a way that they shouldn’t. “He can have this pain if he wants it.”
“I’d say I don’t think that’s what he’s after, but who knows.” Erik shrugged. “I’ll get you some water. Don’t move unless you really need to right now.”
I would have nodded if my body had let me. Instead, my eyes slipped closed and I dozed back off.
***
Two whole days, and while battling nausea, headaches, and everything else that I was in the dark on, Erik hadn’t left. He stayed right there, keeping the other boys from bothering me. Well, except for the one that liked to cry. He had laid with me for a bit, cuddled up against my back while mumbling things that I couldn’t grasp.
I had wanted to tell him that I was fine, but my jaw hurt too much to talk, even if I could get a hold of the words to speak them.
Whatever the heck I was given screwed me up. Majorly.
That would be added to the long list of things I’d never want again.
I sighed, as my body relaxed back against the mattress again. This time, I was on my back, legs flat out before me. It hurt too much to be curled up in a ball like I wanted to. Instead, I stared up at the bunk above me, just breathing and refusing to let my mind think about what I couldn’t remember.
It was better to not remember if I was hurting this badly.
I’d have thought I was all alone, despite what Erik had said. I’d be fine if I was. It wasn’t like there was anything in here I could hurt myself on, or with. And I certainly wasn’t going to leave this bed unless I had to.
The few trips to the bathroom had been bad enough. I wasn’t sure how my bladder hurt, but it had. As did every other part of my body. Erik had kept me from looking in the mirror, so I had no clue what the damage was.
Obviously, it was more than just some bruises if the pain was any indication.
The only conclusion I could come up with was that I had gotten too used to not being in pain every waking moment. Mr. S truly had been much kinder than all the other owners or handlers I had ever had.
But, what the hell happened? Was it really better to let it go, and not drag out answers that I knew no one may or may not answer? Would he solve anything for me if I knew?
I breathed out deep, letting the air ghost past my lips.
I knew the answers to those questions. It was better to not know. I’d only dwell on it more. Which wouldn’t help me one bit.
I was still here, still alive with a beating heart.
My time for death to take me had yet to come.
“Good, you’re still breathing.”
I didn’t bother to stop the groan that escaped as I covered my face with my hands. This time, the groan out of annoyance. Out of all the boys, it had to be this one.
