Avery's Anatomy

Twenty four

Pain comes in all forms.

Charlie stood at the bedroom door, holding her duffel bag from her recent trip to Boston. She was greeted by a heartwarming scene: Meredith lay in bed, covered in white sheets, arms outstretched, blond hair spilling over the pillows, breathing steadily. Charlie hadn't expected Meredith to use the spare key she had given her, but was pleasantly surprised to find her there. Looking at the woman she had come to love, Charlie couldn't help but marvel at her. Despite feeling sentimental about Meredith, her bright smile gave her away. Not wanting to seem like she was intruding, Charlie entered the room and gently placed her bag on the floor to avoid waking Meredith from her peaceful sleep.

The small twinge, a bit of soreness, the random pain. The normal pains we live with every day.

She peeked at her en-suite shower and chose to use the other bathroom instead. Silently, she walked out, entered the bathroom, and started undressing. Switching on the shower, steam filled the room quickly. Standing under the hot water, she leaned her forehead against the cool tiles, eyes closed, savoring the sensation of the water on her skin. Her thoughts were chaotic, reflecting on the unexpected twists in the story she had experienced.

Then there's the kind of pain you can't ignore. A level of pain so great that it blocks out everything else.

Tears cascaded down her face suddenly, mingling with the water as she crumpled to the ground, huddling in a ball while releasing quiet sobs.

Makes the rest of the world fade away.

Meredith was startled awake by the presence of a naked, warm body next to her. She met Charlie's tearful gray eyes and wasted no time in pulling her close, offering comfort as Charlie sought solace by burying her face in Meredith's neck. With closed eyes, Meredith soothed Charlie with calming gestures on her back.

They both laid in silence, and when Charlie's tears subsided, Meredith felt a tender kiss on her cheek. She responded by kissing Charlie back, the embrace full of emotion. They eventually broke apart, and Meredith gently touched Charlie's cheek.

"Want to talk about it?" Meredith asked softly.

Charlie shook her head. "Not right now. It's late, and you have an early morning tomorrow," she replied, snuggling into Meredith. "All I need is for you to hold me." Showing vulnerability instead of her usual confidence, Charlie tugged at Meredith's heartstrings.

"Okay," she whispered, planting a gentle kiss on Charlie's lips once more. "That's completely fine too."

X

The next morning, Meredith woke up to find the half of the bed where the woman was supposed to be lying empty and cold. She sighed, as expected. While Charlie eventually opened up, it took time for her to do so, and Meredith couldn't blame her for that. After all, she also struggled with similar issues, like keeping her mother's condition a secret for a long time.

She got out of bed, grabbed one of Charlie's old Cambridge hoodies and a pair of thick wooly socks before leaving the bedroom. She found the kitchen and lounge empty, wondering if Charlie had gone for a run. Wanting to make some coffee, she went to the machine and turned it on, and then heard the door handle turn. Charlie walked in wearing running tights and a sports bra. Looking out at the foggy morning through the window, she wondered if her girlfriend was losing her mind.

"Morning," she said as she took out her airpods. Charlie smiled at her, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Sorry, I didn't wake you up, but I didn't think you'd want that at four in the morning," she said as she grabbed a water bottle from the fridge. "You've been up since four?" Meredith asked, leaning in for a kiss but noticing how sweaty her girlfriend was. "You definitely need a shower," she said, wrinkling her nose.