The next few weeks pass smoothly, incredibly smoothly. Sam insists that he's taking a break from dating, hockey practice has gone back to being once a week, lectures are easy and the bitter winter months are melting into spring.
However, every time Sam receives a paper cut, or stubs his toe against the wall, I feel it. There's nothing new about feeling his pain, but every pain I am feeling seems to be amplified. Knocking into a table now feels like a stamp to my shin, a paper cut feels like a slice to my palm, and it's starting to worry me.
Sam is no clumsier than usual, which makes me think that it's something wrong with me, which is why I booked a doctor's appointment.
I didn't want Sam to worry, so I left early for my appointment which is scheduled at 8am. The reception calls my name and I make my way down the corridor and into the third door on the left.
"Hello, Eli! How are you today?" My doctor, Dr Allan asks and I smile.
"I'm fine, how're you?" I reply politely and he hums happily.
"I've been great, thank you. So, what can we do for you today?" He asks as I fiddle with my hands.
"Well, I just wanted a general check-up really. I've noticed that whenever I knock into something, it's hurting quite a bit more than it should." I say vaguely, making him frown. It's not strictly true, my own pain is just the same, it's Sam's pains which are amplified.
"Hm, well there could be a number of different explanations for that, are there any other symptoms?" He asks and I hesitate.
"Sometimes, it sounds a bit weird, but I feel other people's pain? Well, just one person's actually." I mumble and Dr Allan nods in comprehension.
"It's not as weird as you might think. Sometimes our minds can empathise with pain that we see, convincing our bodies that we feel it too." He explains and I sigh, knowing that he's not fully understood.
"Right, I just wanted to make sure I'm healthy and all. It can be a bit disconcerting." I admit and he nods, chuckling slightly.
"Of course, I'll take a blood sample, if you want and we can give you a full check-up?" He suggests and I nod.
"Yes, please." I verbalise as Dr Allan prepares a needle.
"Alright, you'll feel a slight pinch." He assures and I look away, not necessarily fearing it but not enjoying the sight either. I exhale heavily when I feel the needle removed, pressing down on the cotton wool that Dr Allan provided.
"Alright, we'll send you the results and I want you to come back if the pain gets any worse, okay?" He asks and I nod in response.
"Have a good day." I mumble, shutting the door behind me.
I walk back to our flat glumly. I'd been hoping for something more definitive, even though I know that what I suffer from shouldn't be real. I rip off the tape holding the cotton wool to my arm, not needing Sam to see the evidence of my appointment. I throw it in the bin and jog up the stairs to our flat, opening the door to be greeted with the sounds of, what I assume to be Grey's Anatomy.
I poke my head into the living room to find Sam curled into a ball, encased in blankets and blowing his nose.
"Dear lord, you're a mess." I state, glancing at the TV.
"He's gone!" He cries and I take the time to register what episode he's watching. Oh, ok, his reaction is tame compared to how I reacted.
I sympathise completely and sit beside him, pulling him into a hug.
"It's ok, I kicked a hole in my wall when I watched this episode." I explain and Sam laughs, sniffling slightly.
"Is that how it happened? Your dad was so pissed at you." He laughs, shaking his head at me.
YOU ARE READING
Growing Pains
Teen Fiction-A soulmate story- Sam and Eli are best friends, they have been for years and they tell each other everything. Well, almost everything. Elias Grey has felt every cut, bruise and fracture that Samuel Rivera has received for eleven years. He has no...
