Not Another Fairy Tale

Chapter 27

During this week, Caroline and I went on tons of dates. Horseback riding, bowling, and trips to the castle cinema were just a few of them. Tonight, when she gets back from work, we'll be off to decorate cakes. At first I was apprehensive to the idea, but I guess I'll try anything once. While I wait, like most days, I work on my carving. Caroline had some supplies sent up here when she found out I love to do it. Lately, I've been carving a figure. The faceless person was tall and thin, her hair in a ponytail. I carved the shadows from my dreams. The woman was definitely too tall to be Caroline, but I just can't place who it is. It's like I know them, but for some reason I can't pull their face back, their features reduced to a dark silhouette. I strained to bring the facial details back, but was met by a shot of pain. My hand slipped, the knife slicing my thumb.
"Ouch!" I yelled, red blood sprinkling on the desk. I searched the room, but found no medical supplies. I wrapped my hand around my gushing finger, starting to panic. I wandered into the bathroom, finding little pink bandaids on Caroline's counter. "Great," I whispered under my breath, "I guess pink will have to do." I ran my hand under the water, the gash stinging. I looked down to see much deeper than expected. More blood poured out, lightheadedness flooding me. I tried to stick the adhesive bandage onto the cut, but I could not get it dry enough to stick. I wrapped my hand in a rag I found on the counter, it's white fibers finding my red blood. I sat down, trying to recover from the dizziness.
"Tarren? You ready for our date?" Caroline called from the door as she came back from work.
"Uh, I think we might be late." I shouted, trying to stand. I failed horribly, collapsing back to the ground.
"What's going on in there?" She yelled, making her way to the bathroom. "Uh, is this blood in the carpet?" She glanced to the floor, finding me on the ground. "Woah, what happened? Why are you so pale? Why do you have my towel wrap-" She quickly put the pieces together, kneeling down next to me.
Her hands shaking, she reached up to unwrap my hand, slowly revealing the bloody thumb. She looked at the gash for a moment then wrapped it back up. "Can you stand?" She asked, pulling herself off the floor. I tried to stand, but couldn't muster the strength. She reached down, carrying me bridal style out the door.
The hospital doctor stitched my skin back on, her delicate hands working wonders. Caroline sat on the chair beside the bed. "So, how did this happen?" Caroline asked, concern painted on her features.
"Well, I was carving and I had another one of those jolts of pain and my hand slipped." I thought back to the doll, her face still missing. The doctor piped up as she continued to sew.
"So, you seem to have lost a decent amount of blood, so take it easy when you go back to the room. No excessive physical activity." She finished her stitches, standing from her chair. "Let's try standing." The doctor came to my side, helping to lift me from the chair. I felt the blood rush from my head,a dizzy feeling overcoming me.
"Woah, steady." Caroline stood, bracing my right side, the doctor on my left. They walked me to the elevator and after a few floors, we stepped out. The familiar halls surrounded me, the intricate doors of the princesses lining the corridor.
The walk to the room seemed longer than usual. We stood at the door, Caroline's door decorated with complex swirls. Caroline helped me into bed, my whole body weak. I tried to pull up the covers, but a shot of pain from my left thumb caused me to pull back. Caroline climbed into bed, helping me with the covers. She started saying something, but I drifted away before I could even comprehend what it was.