Anna returned to the room later that night to find that her husband had been waiting for her. "It's about time you got home," David scolded Anna playfully as she walked in the door.
"It's about time you got home," Anna replied. She had meant for the words to sound sharper than they did, but her teasing tone belied her irritation at David's absence David met Anna halfway across the room, wrapped one arm around her waist, and brought his other hand to her face. Her irritation vanished as he nuzzled her gently, then found his way to her lips. He kissed her hungrily, running his fingers through her soft dark hair. They finally broke their kiss, gasping for air.
"Mmm," David purred. "I missed you."
"I missed you, too." Anna stroked his chest fondly. "You'll have to tell me all about your trip later."
"Later?" David cocked his head to one side.
"Mmhmm," Anna hummed with a flirtatious smile. She pulled herself closer against him, an action to which he showed no sign of objection. They kissed again, David assisting the removal of his wife's jacket and blouse.
Anna wrapped her legs around David's waist and began expertly unbuttoning his shirt, eagerly anticipating the touch of his skin to hers. He carried her to the bed, setting her gently onto her back, his body on top of hers. Anna's hand felt for David's belt, which she hastily unbuckled. She giggled as David's lips moved to her neck, ravishing her. David paused for a moment, just to look at her, her face lit with passion.
"I love you," David said innocently. Anna stopped to study his eyes.
"And I love you, David," she murmured, bringing her arms around his neck. As David leaned back toward Anna, he noticed with concern the bandage on her wrist. He felt its presence as her hands began to claw at his back, and he pulled away cautiously. With one hand he took Anna's, clasping their fingers together, and gestured towards the bandage.
"What happened?" he questioned with genuine care.
Anna's heart, which had been beating excitedly only seconds earlier, was suddenly pounding in panic. "Oh, this?" she answered with feigned casualty.
"Yes, the bandage on your wrist."
Anna shrugged nervously. "I-- I had to arrest someone today, and I handcuffed them to me. They weren't very cooperative." Stupid, stupid, stupid, she beat into her head.
"My God," David frowned, able to make out traces of the gash beneath the bandage. "Does it hurt?"
"No, don't worry, David, I'm fine," she said with as much sincerity as she could muster. "But you know what would make me feel better?" she asked seductively.
David licked his lips before they again met Anna's, and they became lost in each other, bandage forgotten.
Anna lay stiffly on the bed next to David. When she rolled over, her movement was quiet and cat-like, so as not to waken him. Massaging her wrist absentmindedly, she recognized that David's remark had been a close call for her. My little secret isn't doing me any good. I may think cutting myself is making things better, but it's just making things worse. It's not helping me be a stronger person, it's just opening me up to more vulnerability, she realized. She swung her feline legs over the side of the bed and tiptoed noiselessly to the wardrobe.
There she opened the drawer and took her book into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. She turned on the light, her pupils dilating suddenly, and sat on the corner of the bathtub. As she put the book on her lap, it leafed open to reveal three razor blades stuck firmly in its spine. After wrapping each one in a tissue and throwing it in the trash, she felt pleased with herself.
She crawled back into bed, and snuggled against David. Subconsciously he smiled and put his arm around her, unknowingly reassuring Anna that she'd done the right thing. She closed her eyes. The last thought she had before drifting off to sleep consoled her, convincing her that she had enough healing to do without the troubles of the cuts on her wrists.