Trish paused and looked up at him as they headed outside. “Sorry, it’s hard to stay calm…I finally feel I can be myself again…not hide under a fake smile anymore…”

The shadows moved the wrappings so they wouldn’t stick to the new skin starting to form. Serena sighed a little, the pain finally fading slowly. 

John didn’t move as he held her hand. “I messed up in the past with things like this…I don’t want to mess up and hurt anyone else…I have to get on top of this before anyone else gets hurt…” he kept his eyes closed, looking like a stressed dog in a cage.