PLAYING WITH FIRE

Chapter 46: Carina Apartment Part 2

A/N: Mentioned of Period and Mental Abuse
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As Maya settled into bed, the softness of the linens providing a small measure of comfort, she began to notice a strange discomfort in her throat. It was a familiar feeling - one that reminded her of the aftermath of her recent surgery.

She swallowed experimentally, wincing as the pain flared up. The thought of another annoying sore throat was not pleasant, especially when she was already feeling so miserable.
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She gingerly raised a hand to her throat, gently prodding the swollen area. The touch sent a jolt of pain through her body, confirming her suspicions.

As Carina stepped out of the room, Maya managed to croak out a soft plea. "Carina..."

Carina paused in the doorway, turning back towards Maya. Concern was etched on her face when she heard the pained tone of Maya's voice.

She walked back to the bed, sitting down on the edge. Her hand gently stroked Maya's forehead in a soothing gesture. "What is it, Bambina?"

Maya swallowed again, the action causing her to wince in pain. Her voice was hoarse and soft as she spoke, a hint of resignation in her tone. "I think my throat is getting sore again. It hurts to swallow."

Carina's gaze immediately flicked to Maya's throat, her concern deepening. She gently touched the swollen area, feeling the heat and the tenderness.

She swallowed back a pang of worry, not wanting to alarm Maya further. Leaning forward, she spoke gently. "It does look a bit inflamed, Bambina. Can you tell me how bad the pain is on a scale of one to ten?"

Maya closed her eyes, her face contorting slightly as she tried to assess her pain level. After a long moment, she opened her eyes again, meeting Carina's gaze. "Probably a seven... maybe an eight. It's getting pretty bad. I can barely talk without it hurting."

Carina pursed her lips, the severity of the pain registering. She knew from experience that Maya had a high tolerance for pain, so if she was rating it an eight, the pain was more than significant.

She ran a hand through Maya's damp hair, keeping her voice calm but firm. "We need to address this, Bambina. If the pain is that severe, it may be an infection. I'm going to get my brother and get an assessment. Can you manage a few minutes alone?"

Maya nodded, her eyes closed again, the mere act of speaking causing the pain to worsen. The thought of being alone, even for a few minutes, sent a jolt of panic through her, but she tried to tamp it down.

She spoke in a voice barely above a whisper, "I'll be fine... go get your brother."

Carina hated the thought of leaving Maya alone, especially in pain and vulnerable. But she knew that addressing the possible infection as soon as possible was crucial. She gave Maya's hand a quick squeeze, a silent apology.

With a final concerned look, Carina reluctantly got up and left the bedroom, closing the door behind her gently. She quickly made her way to the kitchen where she knew Andrew would be finishing up the soup and hot cocoa.

Andrew looked up from the stove as Carina hurried into the kitchen, his eyes automatically going to her anxious face. He could read the worry in her expression instantly.

He turned down the heat on the stove and gave her his full attention. "What's wrong?"

Carina's words came out in a rush, the anxiety clear in her voice. "It's Maya. She's complaining of a sore throat, and it's getting worse. She could barely speak because it hurts so much. I think it could be an infection."