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“If you say so.”

“I do say so,” Grace called out after her.

Caz was already on the landing and smiling to herself as she headed into what was once her bedroom but now just housed her clothes.

“You are so under the thumb,” she muttered happily. She yanked the drawer open and pulled out fresh underwear. Boxer-style shorts with the Bath Street Harriers logo on them that Dani had gotten her last Christmas in the secret Santa exchange. She again felt a pang of guilt that her friend was in the dark about everything, because she felt sure, when she could finally tell Dani and the others, nobody was going to be annoyed she was spending time at home.

And then she had to admit, she did kind of miss hanging out with the gang.

When she was dressed in matching sweatpants and hoodie, she skipped down the stairs. She was halfway when she stopped.

“Grace, do you need anything?”

There was no answer. So, she tried again, this time walking back up three stairs.

“Grace? I’m going to get dinner on.”

A strangled mewling sound filtered out through the closed door, followed by a more stringent cry.

“Caz!”

Bolting up the remaining steps, and without thinking any further than getting there, Caz opened the door and rushed inside.

Grace was curled up on her side, one hip protruding from the water, her left arm clinging to the side of the bath, with her face contorted, leaning against the edge.

“What’s wrong?” Caz said, instantly dropping to the floor and getting as close as she could.

Eyes wet with tears, stared back at her.

“Grace? Talk to me.”

She mouthed something so inaudible that Caz needed to lean closer still.

“Say that again.”

This time, in a hushed whisper, she heard, “I’m bleeding.”

There was a rush of adrenaline that moved its way like lightning through Caz’s body, numbing any sense of pain or upset.

“A lot?” she asked, but her eyes already answered for her when she looked to the water and saw the murky colour beneath the fading bubbles.

Grace nodded.

“Okay, so, let’s get you out of there and go get you and…let’s get everything checked out, yeah?”

“What if—”

Caz stood up and grabbed a towel, holding it up. She closed her eyes and allowed Grace her dignity.

“Let’s not focus on the negative, it might be completely normal, or just something we need to fix.” She kept her voice as steady as she could, trying desperately to hold on to anything positive.

The sound of water cascading, and then the feel of Grace pulling the towel towards her meant she could open her eyes again.

“It’s going to be okay, whatever happens, alright?”

Grace nodded, but the tears now trickling down her cheek said otherwise when she doubled over in pain and cried out, “Caz, we can’t lose—.”

There was nothing Caz could say, other than offer Grace a hand and help her out of the bath. “Let’s just get things checked, okay?”