What's going on, babe? What is on your head? Is- is that paint?

..No. What makes you think that, my love?

It smells like paint, it looks like paint, it has the same consistency.. And what else would it be?

It could be blood.

You answered that fast.. And I know what blood looks like. It doesn't look or smell like paint, I can tell you that.

I suppose you're right...

But- but seriously, what are you doing with paint on yourself? You're not usually so messy, I wouldn't expect you to have so much on you, especially the petals in the center of your bloom. Don't you usually try to keep those as clean as you can?

Is it, err- is it bothering you? I could clean it up if you wish. I was actually in the middle of doing th-

No, I don't really care.. I'm just curious. Why's it there in the first place?

..No reason.

Uh huh.. Am I meant to believe that?

..Yes.

How???

Because I- I would never lie to you, because I love you...

I- while that's sweet and I appreciate it, that's a lie in itself.

Oh, you've caught me.. My sincerest apologies.

Why are you avoiding my questi- wait, what the fuck..?

Hmmm? What's wrong, my love?

There's like- green stains in the porcelain of the sink- Let me see that real quick.

NO, no, that won't be necessary! It really won't. You- you see, I had green paint, and I accidentally spilled some in the sink! Silly me, I'll get that cleaned up right away..!

No, I can clean it out for you. You've seemed stressed lately, why not just take a load off and go relax?

I can handle it fine, sweetness. I'm not stressed.

You sure..? Just let me handle it. Wash the paint off yourself and go lay down, I'll get you something to ea-

No.

Excuse me?

I said no. I can scrub it out fine.

Why are you so insistent on it? Is there something you don't want me to see or something? I thought you were done keeping things from me...

I.. I don't want to hide things from you. But there's some things simply.. better left unsaid.

What is the green stuff. I need to know, babe. You need to tell me. It seems important.

I don't want to. It's really nothing important.

Uuuugh.. Let me see that, Rose-

No- No, no-

I- oh my god- Rose, what- what is this..? It's not paint.

It's- the paint is, er. Thinned. With water.

No, this isn't paint. This is like- this is fresh...

...

This- oh god. White Rose?

...

Answer me. Please talk, baby. What's going on?

..It was an accident.

What the fuck was the accident? This is blood. This is your blood. I've worked enough with plant objects to know that.

I didn't get hurt on purpose.

There's no quicker way for me to think it WAS on purpose. If you'd accidentally gotten hurt, you'd have come crying to me and I would've helped you. This.. this wasn't a mistake or an accident. Something happened. What's wrong, please.. If it's something I did, I can fix it I promise, just tell me.

No, no, you've got it all wrong. You did nothing wrong, dearest.

Then PLEASE. PLEASE just tell me what drove you to hurt yourself like this.. I can't stand seeing you in pain like this. Not when you did it to yourself.

..Life's just. FUCK, I just don't know what to say.. I can't.. lord, I can't just speak..

Hey, you- we can talk about this later if you need. I get that maybe you just don't have the words for it yet. Do you need some time alone?

No. Don't leave me alone, please.

Ahem- Okay. I need you to tell me what you want, though. You need to tell me what would help you right now.

..If you could just.. just hold me. That'd help.

Hah- yeah, sounds good. Whatever makes you feel better.

-

-

-

If you're okay with it now, I really need to know what made you.. y'know.

Really? Now that we've had a happy moment together, we must switch to such a dark topic?

What do you mean we had a happy moment..??

You- you know, you cuddled me and you brushed away my tears and told me you were proud of me.. Was that not a happy moment?

It- uuugh.. It was a happy moment for you, sure, but not for me. I love to be with you, but I was stressed! I caught you hurting yourself, and you won't tell me why, so it was stressful to just sit there and know you've been doing this.

It- It was a one time thing!!! Never in my life have I-

Don't lie to me.

I- Oh, I wouldn't- No, I'm not- sigh... I suppose I wouldn't lie to you.

Yeah, please- please don't. Go on.

I-.. well, I.. it's- really, it's complicated-

Well, I- I guess I understand that. But- do you at least have something that makes you- self conscious, or something, I guess..?

My appearance.

youansweredthatfast... Wait, your- your looks?? But all you talk about sometimes is how beautiful you are..

...

..Ohhh, oh.. You- it's a coping mechanism, isn't it? You act overly confident about yourself to make it feel like you're not horribly insecure.

..Was that really necessary?

..Sorry. But- I promise you, I'll just.. I'll.. ugh.

I'm sorry to worry you, my love..

Don't apologize. I'll.. I'll do anything to make you believe that you're beautiful, okay? You always have been, you always will be. I'll stay by your side forever to make you know that. Forever, okay?

..Okay. Forever.