Page 93 of Unhinged

"Oh my god. You even got the prescription meds already. Did you wake the doctor for this?"

He scowls at her. "Of course I did."

I almost smile even through my pain. I can imagine his heavy fist pounding on a door, a gun at a hapless doctor’s head.

"Of course you did," she repeats. "Just like any of you guys would have."

"You bought steak and chocolate? How many places did you go?"

"As many as I had to."

"All the years that I’ve known you, I never actually thought I’d say this—but you’re sweet. This is sweet."

I smile when he grunts.

They keep talking, but I don’t hear because the pain is rising again. I try to stifle a whimper.

It starts slow, creeping over me in waves, then?—

The band around my middle tightens.

Harder.

Excruciating.

My back spasms.

I clench my teeth together.

"Breathe," Polina says, her hand in mine. "Matvei."

His huge hands span my back, pressing against the spasms.

Relief.

Blessed relief.

Polina tears through the bags, shakes pills into her hand, and presses them to my lips.

There are more than I expected.

At least four. Maybe six. I lose track.

She presses a straw to my mouth.

"Swallow. This will help."

Then something large and warm presses across my back, replacing his hands.

I miss his hands. They’re comforting.

I shiver as he lays his hands on top of it, his fingers wrapping around where the material ends and my bare skin begins.

That’s better.

"This is a heating pad. It’s going to help. Just let the heat do its magic. This will make you feel a lot better soon."

"Physical touch helps. It soothes," she says softly.

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