Mystery

It was only the second day of your period—your “red sea,” as you sometimes called it—and the pain was relentless. You lay curled on the couch, clutching your stomach with one hand while pressing a hot compress against yourself with the other. It hurt worse than it ever had before, and the painkillers that usually worked had failed you this time. Tears stung at the corners of your eyes, and all you could do was curl in tighter, wishing the ache away.

From the kitchen came the soft sounds of Mystery moving about, the quiet clink of a spoon against porcelain. He was making tea for you. You thought of your mom’s hands, the way they used to soothe your cramps, warm and gentle and full of love. For a moment, you wondered if Mystery’s touch could ever feel the same—though deep down, you knew his hands had a magic all their own.

A moment later, the scent of tea reached you as he set a steaming mug on the coffee table. Then the couch dipped beside you as he sat down, close and steady. His hand found your waist, rubbing softly, grounding you in his presence.

“Come here, love,” he said in that warm, soothing voice of his. “The tea’s ready. I brought a different painkiller this time—we’ll see if it helps. If it does, I’ll make sure we always have it for you.”

You managed a weak nod, pushing yourself up to sit. “Okay... I’ll try.”

Setting the heating pad aside, you swallowed the pill with the entire mug of tea. The warmth slid down your throat, but the cramps still twisted mercilessly, and you blinked hard as tears pricked your eyes. Mystery didn’t give the pain a chance to win. In one smooth motion, he pulled you gently onto his lap, cradling you sideways with your head against his chest.

He kissed your temple softly before sliding a hand beneath your shirt, his palm warm as it rubbed slow, tender circles over your stomach. His other arm wrapped around you securely, holding you as if you were the most precious thing in the world.

“Better, love?” he whispered, his breath brushing against your hair. His voice was laced with worry, but even more with love.

And for the first time that day, despite the ache in your body, you felt just a little bit lighter—safe in his arms, where pain didn’t seem quite so strong anymore.