Winona reclined against the hospital bed with a pale,delicate expression and offered a soft,pity-laced smile."I heard you used to massage Mr.Shepherd every night after you two got married.Why the sudden hesitance now?Oh…I see.You're worried about your dignity,aren't you?Of course,you're the prestigious wife of Lennon Shepherd.How could you possibly stoop so low as to massage a blind woman like me?"
Lennon shot me a cold,disapproving glance."Why are you just standing there?Don’t forget—Winona got hurt because of you."
I drew a shaky breath,then slowly knelt by the bed and began massaging Winona’s legs.
She let out a soft,satisfied sigh and closed her eyes,like a queen accepting a servant's offering.
I remembered all those nights when Lennon came home exhausted from work.I had spent months learning massage just to soothe his stress,to give him comfort and care.
And now…he was asking me to do the same for his lover.
"Ow!"Winona shrieked."What’s wrong with you?That hurt!If you don’t want to do it,then don’t touch me!"
She suddenly recoiled in mock pain,pulling her leg away and kicking me hard under the chin.
"Oh—I'm so sorry!"she said sweetly,hands fluttering in fake distress."I forgot I was blind.I couldn’t see where I was kicking.Did I hurt you?"
Her kick knocked me backward and the back of my head slammed into the sharp edge of the cabinet.
My vision dimmed instantly.A high-pitched ringing filled my ears.
The sharp,metallic scent of blood hit my nose.I reached behind my head and felt something warm and wet.My fingers came away slick with blood.
Fighting against the dizziness,I pulled myself upright,using the cabinet for support.
I could feel the blood trickling down the back of my neck,soaking through the collar of my shirt.
Lennon did not move an inch.Not even a glance in my direction.
"Lennon…"I whispered his name.My voice trembled with pain and disbelief.
"Quit playing the victim,"he replied coldly."Winona barely touched you."
Winona stepped behind him and smirked at me,satisfied.
"I feel so dizzy…"I pressed my palm to the wall to keep myself upright.The world around me began to blur,the hallway bleeding into red and gray.
Only then did Lennon finally look at me—and freeze when he saw the blood streaming down my face.
He hesitated,as if about to come over,but Winona clung to his sleeve."Lennon,my legs…they still hurt so much…"