Balancing Protective Love

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL 2 - a deep cut

The night was well underway at Leo and Maria's Halloween party when the excitement around the pumpkin carving competition reached its peak. The friends were crowded around the long table, each person focused on their own masterpiece, knives carefully slicing through orange flesh. Linda, dressed as a vampire, was absorbed in her own design, trying to perfect the jagged smile of her pumpkin. Alex was beside her, working on his own, casting occasional glances her way, a playful smile on his lips.

The evening had been full of laughter and playful banter, but all that faded in an instant when Linda felt the sharp sting of the carving knife slicing into her finger. She immediately winced, a rush of panic flooding her chest. Her first instinct was to hide it. She didn't want to ruin the mood or make a big deal out of it, so she quickly dropped the knife and pressed her hand to her side, hoping no one would notice.

But the blood. There was so much of it.

She tried to hold back a gasp, her heart racing. She felt the sticky warmth of blood pooling in her palm, and no matter how hard she pressed, it seemed to be coming faster. Her eyes darted around the room. Maybe she could sneak off to the bathroom and clean it up, but when she tried to take a step back, Alex's sharp gaze immediately locked onto her.

"Linda?" His voice was soft but concerned, instantly aware that something was wrong.

She gave him a tight, guilty smile, her other hand still clenched around the wound. "It's nothing, really."

But Alex wasn't buying it. He moved closer, his eyes narrowing when he saw the dark red drops already staining her costume. "Let me see."

"No, no, it's fine. I—" She cut herself off with a hiss of pain, and before she could stop him, Alex had gently taken her hand, peeling it away from her side. The sight made his jaw tighten. The cut was deep, and blood was flowing freely.

"Linda!" His tone was alarmed but calm, his eyes filled with concern as he turned to the others. "Guys, we need some help here."

Micheal, dressed as a mad scientist, was the first to react, dropping his pumpkin tools and hurrying over. David followed closely behind, both of them assessing the situation quickly.

Micheal frowned as he crouched beside Linda. "That's a deep one. It's not going to stop on its own."

"I didn't mean to make it a big deal..." Linda mumbled, her voice shaky as the adrenaline kicked in, making her tremble. Her head felt light, and she swayed a little, the blood loss adding to her anxiety.

"You didn't do anything wrong," Alex said softly, keeping her steady with an arm around her shoulders. "But you need to let them help you now."

David knelt on her other side, already pulling on a pair of sterile gloves from a small medical kit Leo kept in the house for emergencies. "We'll take care of this. Alex, just keep her calm, alright?"

Alex nodded, his hand gently stroking her back as Linda's breaths came quicker, her fear overtaking her. "It's okay, sweetheart. You're safe. They're going to fix it."

Micheal carefully peeled away the blood-soaked napkin Linda had been pressing to her wound. "I'm sorry, Linda. This is going to need stitches."

Her eyes widened in panic, tears immediately springing to the surface. "No, no, no! I hate stitches! Please, no!"

"Shhh, hey, it's okay," Alex murmured, his voice low and soothing. He pulled her into a gentle hug, trying to calm her down. "I know you hate this, but it's going to help you feel better. You trust me, right?"

Linda buried her face in his chest, her tears wetting his shirt. "I just hate this so much. I don't want stitches..."

"I know, baby. I know." Alex kissed the top of her head softly, holding her tighter. "But you need to stop bleeding. The quicker they fix you up, the quicker it'll be over, okay?"

Meanwhile, David and Micheal had already prepped the area, carefully disinfecting the wound. David glanced up at Alex, giving him a reassuring nod. "We're going to numb the area first, Linda, so you won't feel much, okay?"

Linda whimpered but nodded, her body trembling as Alex continued to whisper comforting words in her ear. Micheal prepared a syringe with the local anesthetic, and David cleaned the area with antiseptic wipes, ensuring everything was as sterile as possible.

"This might sting a little," David said as he carefully injected the numbing solution around the cut. Linda tensed up in Alex's arms, her breath hitching at the slight pain.

"Just breathe, sweetheart," Alex whispered, his fingers gently brushing through her hair. "I've got you."

Harper, watching from nearby, tried to help in his own way. He hurried over with a plate of Halloween cookies, offering them to Linda with a hopeful smile. "How about a cookie, Linda? You know, cookies make everything better."

Linda gave a weak laugh through her tears, her face still pressed against Alex. "Maybe later, Harper..."

He chuckled softly, setting the cookies aside but staying close in case she needed more distractions.

Once the anesthetic took effect, Micheal and David worked quickly. Micheal carefully threaded a needle and began stitching the wound while David held the edges of the skin together. The atmosphere was tense, but the doctors were professional, their hands steady as they worked.

Linda, though mostly numb, could feel the pressure of the needle and the tugging sensation as they pulled the stitches through. She whimpered again, her hand gripping Alex's shirt tightly.

"You're doing so well," Alex murmured. "Just a little longer, and it'll be all over. You're being so brave."

Linda nodded, though her tears kept falling. It was all so overwhelming—the pain, the blood, the fear of being stitched up. But having Alex's steady presence beside her made it bearable.

After what felt like an eternity, Micheal tied off the final stitch and stepped back, giving David a nod. "All done. You did great, Linda."

David applied a sterile bandage over the stitches and carefully wrapped her hand to keep it protected. "You're going to be sore for a few days, but everything's fixed up."

Linda looked down at her hand, still shaking but relieved that it was over. "Thank you... I'm sorry I was such a mess."

"Hey, no need to apologize," Micheal said with a warm smile. "It's totally normal to be scared. But you handled it well."

Harper appeared again, this time holding out a cookie in front of her face. "Now can you have a cookie?"

Linda laughed softly, wiping away her tears with her good hand. "Alright, fine. I'll take the cookie."

As Harper handed it to her with a grin, Alex helped her to her feet, keeping his arm around her waist. "Let's go sit down, okay?"

Linda nodded, leaning heavily against him as they made their way to the couch. Alex sat beside her, holding her close as she nibbled on the cookie. Despite the rough moment, she felt safe and cared for, surrounded by her friends.

Leo, who had been watching the whole thing with concern, finally approached. "You okay, Linda?"

She smiled weakly. "Yeah, I'll be fine. Just glad it's over."