This was going to be the oddest conversation of her life, the hardest at that. But she had promised, and she was not one for breaking said promises.

"Andrea" the worry from her wife's voice seemed to jump on to the back of her head and coiled its way down to the base of her own stomach, she hadn't made a noise yet Miranda had still sensed her, she was torn as to whether enjoy this as proof of love, or take it as a hint to just how much her wife was keeping tabs on her

"I need to "

Miranda took an unsteady breath and nodded, before standing up and walking to the door, she paused for Andrea to go before her and shut the study door behind her, they then progressed up the stairs. There was uncomfortable silence as Miranda sat on the bed picking imaginary lint of her grey skirt, and waited for Andrea to come out of the bathroom. She looked up as her wife came into view, along with a metal box. She placed the box beside Miranda and moved to the small table that sat on her side of the bed, took out a small pouch normally used for holding an iPod, and retrieved a thin silver blade from it. She sat beside her wife.

"How do you want to do this?"
"I can go into the bathroom then when I'm finished –"

"I will apply first aid, I need that."

"OK" She looked at the elder of the two women and felt guilt low in her stomach. "Miranda –"
"You promised"

"I did, I promised" she kissed the white haired woman on the forehead and moved to the bathroom, she closed the door and was gone from Miranda's view.

The next few minutes were the longest in Miranda's life, save from the ticking of the bedside clock, the world stood still and silent. She took her glasses off and rubbed her tied eyes. She concentrated on breathing and tried not to think of the things that could go wrong. Just as she was thinking of knocking on the door, a clicking sound signalled the remerging of her wife, she put her glasses back on.

"Hi" Said Andrea weakly, "All done"

She patted the bed beside her and motioned for the brunette to sit. Then Miranda opened the box.

"Show me"

Andrea pulled her knee length skirt up to show the new lines that grazed her thigh, there were only five or six but they caused Miranda's heart to jump into her chest, and her eyes to sting with unshed tears. She removed swabs and antiseptic from the kit and used them to clean her wife's thighs. Andrea did her best not to flinch, and her utmost not to look her darling wife in the eye, the guilt was far more than she could handle. Once finished with the cleaning, Miranda used the plasters to wrap the brunettes' thigh. She kissed her hand and placed it on the thigh, then kissed her wife on the lip.

"I love you"

"I'm sorry"

"I know, I might not understand, but I know"