Entangled Feelings

New, old and Unspoken emotions : Alex Warren/Carene Warren

(Alex)

"Is that... blood?" 

"Where?" I looked down and Carene turned to face me, following my gaze to the cut on my shoulder. "Ah, just a small scratch." 

"It's fresh, it must've happened when you were out." She mumbled and grabbed my arm, taking me along with her to the washroom nearby. Pushing me down on the edge of the bath tub, she rushed to the cabinets for a first aid kit.

"I'm fine, it's just a small scratch." She shook her head. 

"It can cause infection." The cabinet was slammed closed and she rushed to my side.

"Love, a small infection can't kill your husband." I said and she paused, looked at me holding the cotton swab soaking the antiseptic liquid in her hand, and stood there quietly for a brief moment.

"Maybe it can." She muttered and stepped closer but was still far. Her hand raised to my shoulder where the cut was and dabbed the cotton there. I watched her. Eyes not moving away from her face. She was far. "Does it sting?" She asked and looked into my eyes for less than a second before looking away.

"Come closer." The whisper left my lips. She looked at me, puzzled.

"What?" Her hand retrieved and she stood up straight.

"Come closer, love" I repeated, this time a bit louder. "You're too far." 

She stared at me, wide eyed, looking at me as if I was insane. I held her forearm and pulled her close. Close enough to feel her warmth. She shook her head to snap out of her thoughts and looked everywhere but at me. 

"Are you gonna leave the scratch untreated? So I could get the infection?" I tilted my head, trying to find her eyes. She hesitated in making the eye contact. "Love? Can you look at me, please?" And she did. She looked into my eyes. I refuse to believe perfection doesn't exist. 

She cleared her throat and went back to treating the small injury. She reacted like this to a small scratch. Treating it like it could be a grave danger to my life and this, this made me wonder. If I turned around, and she sees those deep, dark littered marks on my back, how will she react to them? What if she was there at the time I had gotten them? Would she have treated them like how she was treating the small scratch? 

I didn't dare move. Would she be scared? Disgusted? Angry? I was curious to know. But not now. 

She nodded when she was done with her small treatment and looked up at me. Our faces so close. So close. So close. If I could-

And suddenly, the door bell rang. Our brows furrowed together in confusion after snapping out of the small stance.

"I'll see the..." She mumbled, scratching her cheek nervously.

"Yeah sure." I nodded as she excused herself to see the person at the door. I took a deep breath before going upstairs. 

(Carene)

"Coming!" I said and unlocked the door before opening it. Scarlet stood there and smiled at me. 

"Hey... am I disturbing?" She asked rubbing her neck. Her eyes looked tired. Faint dark circles were visible on her face. Her usual red lipstick was gone but her bareface was just as pretty.

"Oh, no. Come in." I stepped aside and welcomed her. "Should I call Alex?" She turned to me, her head downturned and she fidgeted with her sleeves. I closed the door behind her.

"No actually... I was thinking... Is it okay uhm- I wanted to know if I can talk to you...?" Hesitation was evident in her voice.

"Sure, what is it?" She looked unsure. I reached out and rubbed her arm. "Are you okay?"