“I’m not doing it.”
“Okay.”
“Tell Dr. Patel.”
“I can tell him you’re scared.”
“I said I’m not doing it.”
Ellen sat.
“They cannot stay forever.”
“Why?”
“Because your skin is healing around them.”
“Then let them.”
“That can cause problems.”
Lily began crying.
“I don’t want forty-three pinches.”
Ellen stayed.
Eventually Emily arrived from the family shower room.
She looked exhausted.
Marcus had promised to come but was delayed by a breakdown? Could be clinic schedule. At 8:20 Dr. Patel entered with nurse practitioner.
Lily panicked.
“No.”
He stopped.
“We’re not starting.”
“No.”
“Okay.”
Marcus appeared in doorway at 8:27.
Out of breath.
Pink hoodie.
Black vest.
“I hate hospital parking.”
Lily looked.
“You’re late.”
“Terrible traffic.”
“Did you bring motorcycle?”
“Yes.”
“You could park anywhere.”
“Apparently hospital security disagrees.”
She almost smiled.
Dr. Patel said:
“Marcus, she has a job for you.”
Marcus sat beside.
“What?”
Lily whispered:
“Count.”
“Staples?”
She nodded.
“Okay.”
“Out loud.”
“Fine.”
Dr. Patel explained again.
Numbing medicine.
One at a time.
Stop anytime.
Lily held Emily’s hand.
Marcus sat where she could see his face.
First staple.
She flinched.
“One,” Marcus said.
Second.
“Two.”
Third.
Tears.
“Three.”
At seven, Lily said stop.
Everyone stopped.
No frustration.
She breathed.
Marcus talked about something ridiculous at garage.
After two minutes:
“Again.”
Eight.
Nine.
Ten.
At fourteen she cried harder.
Break.
At twenty-one she said:
“Half?”
Marcus calculated.
“Almost.”
“You’re bad math.”
“Twenty-one and a half would be half.”
“You can’t have half staple.”
“Exactly.”
She laughed while crying.
They continued.
At forty-three, Dr. Patel placed last staple in tray.
Marcus said:
“Forty-three.”
Lily opened eyes.
“That’s it?”
“That’s it,” Dr. Patel said.
She cried differently then.
Relief.
Emily kissed her hand.
Marcus stayed still.
Lily looked at him.
“Did I scream?”
“No.”
“I cried.”
“Different.”
“Did I win?”