Loving Her Body

tender talks

POV: Haelyn

"Are you awake?" A familiar voice whispers from the door as it cracks open.

Of course I'm awake. I sleep all day since I have nothing better to do and am constantly exhausted from not eating much. All I ever end up doing is sleeping most of the day and being awake all night until someone comes to check on me in the morning. I get regular check-ins from hospital staff and occasionally the officer checks in too, but never for long - five minutes maximum.

I nod and slowly sit up since I've just been laying awake, staring at the ceiling for hours. I look over to Selene, shielding my eyes as she flicks on the lights to their full brightness and steps in, asking if I'm ready to bathe.

I nod and slip out of bed, putting on my slippers and dressing gown as she sits on the edge of my bed, her hand resting on my thigh. She doesn't replace her hand as I move away, uncomfortable more than usual with her touching me.

"Do you want a bath or a shower?" She asks, being surprisingly patient with me as she waits for my response.

A shower would probably require her helping me more than a bath would so I suppose the bath is the better option for me doing more on my own without her touching me.

"Bath," I mutter and she nods, getting up and going into the small bathroom attached to my room. I know the bath would be too small for both of us so all Selene can do is stand nearby while I wash myself and ensure I don't get my bandages wet.

I take a minute before following her in to the bathroom, sitting on the toilet lid as she fills up the bath and makes sure the water's warm. She can't leave me alone since everyone seems to fear I'll try to drown myself or something, which I won't. Drowning would be too slow and I'd have to much time to think and abort that attempt so I certainly won't even try drowning for suicide.

As she finishes running the bath, and before she can turn around, I start taking off my dressing gown, slipping off my slippers as I undo the buttons on my shirt and take it off. They confiscated my bra so I don't wear one at the moment, leaving my breast feeling really exposed all the time. It doesn't matter too much though, especially not since I'm in front of Selene. She might get hard from the view I guess, but she can't do anything to me currently. I'd scream for other people before she could do much to me.

Selene turns around just as I take off the pyjama shorts leaving me in just my knickers, instantly averting her eyes. Its almost funny to see her so embarrassed and nervous just to see me naked. She's seen it all before so her being suddenly so careful is humorous.

I don't say anything as I slip off my underwear as well, leaving it on top of my pile of clothes, easy to see if she looked at it. At this point I'm just teasing her to see how she reacts. I walk in front of her, just in her view, as I step into the bath and slide down to settle into the warm water, keeping my bandaged arm away from the water.

Selene takes a moment before crouching next to the bath, taking my hand and kissing the back of it, her hand gently caressing the bandages, something swirling in her eyes as she looks at it. She almost looks upset or regretful.

I hold out my free hand for her to hand me the soap but she doesn't seem to get it, finally looking up to glance into my eyes, showing the deep regret in her eyes. I don't know what she's regretful about but it's probably nothing, and I can't be bothered to ask.

"Could you pass the soap, please?" I impatiently ask as she just sits frozen beside the tub.

She snaps out of it and, before I can grab it from her hand once she's finally got it, she pulls away, frowning at me. Her stare makes my heart sink. What does she know? Athena didn't rat me out, did she?