Blood, Love and Tears

CHAPTER ONE

-- Jimin's Home --

Jimin looked into the mirror, blood streaked the lower half of his face. It dripped from his chin and his vision was blurred slightly. Not only from the tears that came to his eyes but from the loss of blood. He was on the verge of passing out. 

He looked down at the sink that held the towel, fully soaked with the blood, and started the water. He pushed on it, watching as the puffs of blood swirled in the water as they were pushed from the towel. Fresh drips still coming from his face bloomed in the water, giving rich red streaks to the bowl of pink liquid. He reached for a tissue on the back of the toilet and stuffed it up each nostril. It soaked quickly. He had to stop this!

He slumped to the floor, tired and feeling drained. He reached for the first aid kit that was stored safely under the counter and pulled from it the injection he used for emergency clotting. With slick and bloody hands he opened the packet and pulled out the needle. It was a difficult process with wet, sticky hands but he was able to accurately administer the medicine. He rested his head back on the closed toilet seat, aiding the stop of the nosebleed by tilting his head and waited for the injection to work.

'Please stop' he thought, begging to the heavens that this episode would not be his last.

The towel had blocked the drain and the pink water was now flowing over the edge of the sink, pouring on the floor. He looked over and watched it come down the white counter, streaking the bloody water everywhere. Blood. It was so important yet could be so deadly.

Jimin had been born with Congenital Afibrinogenemia. It was quite the mouthful, but basically it's a genetic disease that made blood clotting almost impossible. His mother had died in childbirth because of it and here he was, seventeen years later just holding on by a string because of it. His mother had a milder form, but his was quite severe. Every couple of weeks he needs to go for injections in order to replace his fibrinogen. He sighed and pulled himself to his weary body up and gets to his knees, the blood water soaking into his jeans as he reached for the taps and turns off the water.

He plopped back down onto the watery floor and closed his eyes.

'Just rest a little, allow the body to create more blood, and then I can clean this up.' Jimin thought.

He was awoken by a cry of dismay and his nanny shook him.

Nanny: 'Jiminie! You okay?'

He looked at her, half dazed, and nodded. She saw the first aid kit and the used injector and breathed a sigh of relief.

Nanny: 'I am so sorry! I had popped out for the groceries...'

Jimin: 'It's okay. I am fine.'

She helped him stand and seated him on the closed toilet. She grabbed a dry towel and handed it to him to wrap himself. She bustled around, turning on the shower, squeezing out the bloody towel in the sink, and trying to clean up.

Nanny: 'Have a shower and clean up. Put your clothes in the hamper. I will wash them straight away to prevent stains. I'll go grab some orange juice for some energy...'

She popped out of the room. He watched her go and pulled off his top. He didn't know what he would do without her. He tossed the discarded clothes in the hamper and took the juice from her.

Nanny: 'Just get clean, then go change. I will handle all this.'

She smiled. He stood and kissed her cheek as she bent to grab the hamper of dirty clothes.

Jimin: 'Thanks, Nana. I would have been long gone without you.'

Nanny: 'Don't say that! I only am cleaning up. You saved yourself and are a strong boy'