A soft pat of her hand on your cold cheek assured you. So your body let itself relax into her lap, where your heavy head nested. Her palm moved to caress the scars embroidered on your face, neck and arms. The tingling warmth of her fingertips soothed the pain and slowly distilled it out of your body.

The comfort blew bubbles in your spine, making the cold quiver away. Her other hand cleared the tangles of your hair from your face, her thumb quietly sealing all the thorns into shy rose petals on your lips.

She...