Scars
Disclaimer: I do not own Sweeney Todd or the associated characters.
No one would have imagined Nellie to have many scars. Why would they?
Sweeney had them, after all the years in Australia, but Mrs. Lovett had scars too. Painful reminders of the past, having to look at them every day, memories clawing their way back to the brain, reliving it all over again. Sweeney was staring at her as she worked in her shop, kneading dough. A scar was peeking out behind the fabric of her corset. He shouldn't have been looking there, but he was entranced. How would Eleanor get a mark like such?
The At first, he had imagined her skin near flawless- something he wasn't quite proud of. He was roused from his thoughts as he heard her clear her throat. He looked up at her eyes and licked his lips.
"Were you even listening, Mr. Todd?"
"When do I ever, Mrs. Lovett?"
"You have a customer waiting upstairs."
Sweeney looked at the ceiling but didn't get up.
"I guess I do."
She raised an eyebrow and turned away to continue working.
"How many, Mrs. Lovett?"
"How many what, Mr. Todd?"
"Scars. How many do you have?"
"Too many. You should really see to that customer now."
Nellie tapped her fingers on the counter, waiting for him to leave.
"How did you get them, Mrs. Lovett?"
She bit the inside of her lip and turned to retreat to her bedroom. He moved to grab her arm, holding her back.
"I've had a hard life, but you, Mr. Todd have definitely had it harder. They mean nothing, not mine."
"Let me see them."
He swiped a curl off her neck and his fingers brushed over a mark. She didn't push him away.
Something told Sweeney that Nellie had many more. Maybe she would show him.
Mrs. Lovett had scars, and just like anyone else, had gone through the pain. But how much was that?
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Reviews are much appreciated, and Happy Halloween! This concludes the 21-short stories a day. (Tomorrow I will post another to make up for how bad this was.)