Through Time She Came

Ch.9 Scars

December 27, 1927

Anet knocked on the back door of the boarding house. It was 1 in the morning, she could only imagine how late she'd be at L'Angela come New Year's Eve. Everyone had to be asleep, except for Ma Fran. She opened the door to let her in.

An trudged in, "I didn't wake you did I?"

"I was up reading." She helped An remove her coat. "You look so tired, dear."

"I am."

"Here, I had this made for you while I was out today." She pulled out a key from her apron pocket. "Now I can get to sleep early." She smiled that motherly smile.

"Thanks, Ma. I appreciate it."

"Alright, you get to sleep now, young lady."

"You too. Goodnight, Ma." Anet removed her heels and made the long climb up the stairs.

As soon as she got to her room, she immediately flopped onto her bed and fell asleep.

~•~

Circa – 3:30 a.m.

Knock, knock, knock.

Her name quietly, urgently spoken. "Anet."

Anet turned over in bed.

The voice a little louder, "Anet!"

She dragged herself out of bed. Opened her door.

"Tom?"

"Anet, I need--,"

"Tom! You're bleeding!" wide awake now, she helped him in. "What happened to you?" she seated him on her bed.

His laugh weak, "What's it look like happened, baby?" she helped him remove his coats.

"I can see that—frick!" His shirt was soaked in blood, heaviest at the shoulder. "I'll go ask Ma for some bandages!"

"No! No, don't do that. I don't like worrying her. She has a kit in the pantry."

"Ok, hold on." She grabbed a towel from her wardrobe. "Take off your shirt."

"Hoo, hoo! Yes, nurse." He chuckled pathetically.

She examined his shoulder. "Linear wound." She said placing the towel on it. "Keep pressure on it, I'll be back up!"

She hurried down and back. Arms full.

"Hey, angel baby."

She'd brought up the alcohol that Tom had stashed in the piano for special occasions. He'd brought it out once when they were practicing. This she poured into the empty washbasin she had set on the nightstand. She threw in what hand towels she had, each cut up into smaller squares. She cut up the extra pillowcases from the linen closet. She brought the waste basket over.

"Someone knows what they're doing."

She checked the rate of the bleeding and applied more pressure with both hands. Tom's jaw clenched. "I guess I deserved that."

Anet continued in silence.

"We should be able to clean it now." She said setting the bloody towel aside. She'd worry about the bloody mess on the covers later.

Tom grimaced at the sight of the alcohol soaked washcloth in her hand.

"Hold still." she wiped over the wound.

He sucked in air through clenched teeth.

"I'll be working my way into the wound with each stroke."

"Got it. I'll keep it down." He steeled himself for the next stroke.