When Jenny opened her door, she was speechless. Alex sat, stripped to the waist, his torso and arms a patchwork of cuts and blood.

Jenny: Wendy, bring me a bottle of water.
Ellie: I’ll go get more towels.
Jenny: No, stay. We need to clean his wounds so I can stitch him up.
Ellie: Should we give him whiskey or something? For the pain?
Jenny: No. It would just worsen the bleeding. There are cloth napkins in that drawer—soak them with this and clean around the wounds.

Ellie: OK… here I go.
Alex (gritting his teeth): Ouch… ouououou fuuu—dge is my favorite sweet.

Wendy returned just in time, holding the water.

Wendy: I know the word fuck.
Jenny: Wendy!

Everyone laughed, though Alex’s laughter was broken by pain.

Jenny handed him a wooden spoon.

Jenny: Bite this.

She applied a cream around the wounds and gave it a moment to dull the pain.

Jenny: This will help. I don’t have much… I shouldn’t have it at all, but you never know.

Even with the mild anesthetic, Alex felt every stitch. He gritted his teeth, biting into the spoon, and focused on anything else—surfing. He imagined himself riding a huge wave, the saltwater spraying his face. The pain was still there, but somehow, it receded into the background.

It took Jenny’s expert hands nearly 20 minutes to stitch him up.

Jenny: Done. Forty-eight stitches for the two deep gashes in your abdomen. Nineteen for your arm. No internal damage—your belly fat saved you.
Ellie: Oooh, my fatso is safe now.
Alex: Not funny.
Ellie: What did the fatty say?

Alex rolled his eyes.

Alex: How long until I’m better?
Jenny: Ten to fourteen days until the wounds are closed. Two more weeks until you’re completely healed. It was bad. Avoid physical activity as much as you can.
Alex: Got it.

Jenny: We’re staying here for now. Wendy’s dad isn’t around, and my parents are in the countryside. If you’re staying too, come see me in a few days.

Alex glanced at Ellie.

Alex: We haven’t decided yet, but if we stay, I’ll come. Thanks, Jenny.

Jenny: How’s your shoulder, by the way?
Alex: Honestly? I don’t even feel it. Maybe because everything else hurts.
Jenny: Really? Try this.

She demonstrated a circular motion with her arm. Alex copied it.

Alex: Nothing. Maybe it’s your cream. Or maybe it didn’t bother me while I was fighting that thing.
Jenny: Remarkable. Well, let’s hope you recover just as fast overall. Do you have painkillers? Take one every eight hours if you do.
Alex: Yeah, we have some. Thanks again, Jenny. Let us know if there’s anything we can do to repay you.
Jenny: I’ll hold you to that. Now go rest—a lot.
Ellie: I’ll make sure he does. Thanks, Jenny. And you too, Wendy.
Wendy: You’re welcome. Bye, Ellie! Bye, Elex!
Jenny: It’s A-lex.
Wendy shuffled her hands awkwardly, looking down.

Jenny: Bye, guys. Don’t hesitate to come back if the pain gets worse, Alex.
Alex: Thanks again. Bye!

Back at their house, Alex couldn’t reconnect the internet or the TV, so he decided to go to sleep. He placed a few painkillers on his nightstand, just in case the pain woke him up during the night. Everything that had happened still swirled through his mind. Despite the danger—no, because of it—he couldn’t deny the rush. Even when my life was hanging by a thread, I felt more alive than ever.

Am I a masochist? He frowned. I’m not enjoying the pain though… maybe it was the adrenaline.

Morgan was curled up on the bed at Alex’s feet, lying on top of the covers. Ellie had already changed clothes and sat beside him. Without warning, she lifted his shirt to check his wounds.

Alex: I don’t think the doctor allows that… Although, if we’re careful—
Ellie: You can’t think of anything else, can you? Don’t worry, you lost so much blood I don’t think you’re physically capable.
Alex: …
Ellie: No. I won’t risk ripping your stitches. Hold it for a few days.
Alex: A few? I need the endorphins—they’ll help me heal.
Ellie: Endorphin yourself, then. Now, if you want, I can do some Reiki for the pain.
Alex (pouting): Oh-kay…

Ellie closed her eyes, rubbing her hands together slowly. She placed her palms over the gash on Alex’s side.

A faint green glow began to emanate from her hands. Tiny particles, like glowing snowflakes, drifted down.

Alex blinked, his eyes fixed on the strange light. What is that?

Morgan barked suddenly, startling both of them. Ellie opened her eyes and the glow vanished.

Ellie: Morgan, quiet! I need to fix your dad.
Alex: El, your hands were shining.
Ellie: What?
Alex: Yeah, they were literally glowing.
Ellie: Are you hallucinating?
Alex: No, really. Do it again—it felt good.
Ellie: What if I hurt you?
Alex: Try it on this tiny wound here.

Ellie hesitated but closed her eyes and focused again. Her hands hovered over a smaller scrape. Within seconds, the green light returned, and the glowing particles began falling like snow.