***

Cohen’s eyes snapped open. They couldn’t move anything but their eyes, but registered that they were lying in their bed face down, the covers were kicked to the end of their bed, and that their side was in pain and kind of damp. Perhaps they had been overheated and sleeping on their side? Then his body unclenched and released him from his morning paralysis, and just a few moments later all the memories from their dream came rushing back. Cohen slowly and jerkily rolled over and sat up, cursing and swearing under their breath, only to find that their bottom sheet was stained dark red with blood. Their blood. 

“Great, now I guess I have to bandage myself up AND clean my sheets,” they said somewhat frustratedly to themself, “today’s already off to a great start.”

There was a first-aid cupboard in the closet that Cohen shared with their roommates that they consulted first. They grabbed gauze, a non-adhesive pad, and butterfly strips to close the wound, plus pins to fasten the gauze. The application of the dressings was understandably painful, as they had to twist their body right where it hurt most, but they managed. Next was to rinse their nightgown, Cohen stood at the sink and filled it with warm water with soap and the slightest amount of peroxide. They swirled and scrubbed at the bloodstained fabric, hoping that the stain would come out well enough for it to not be noticeable. Finally, the sheets were taken off the bed and given the same treatment as the nightgown, and the mattress was scrubbed with a sponge until the blood could have been mistaken for an old water or oil stain. Now to get dressed, because even though they had a bad night, their friends were expecting them at the carnival, and the outside time would probably be a good way to clear their mind. Cohen picked their favourite red dress and grabbed a crinoline for underneath. Then they grabbed some cherry blossom hair pins, red ballerina pumps, white frilled crew socks, and a white clutch with an all-over cherry pattern and gold closures.