The Itchy Affair

"We're going to die," Kiki whispered in the middle of the night.

"No, we're not," Ren answered calmly, rubbing her back.

They had been awake for two days straight, and were getting cold and hungry. They had no more water, no more food, and none of the drugs that normally helped ease their pain. They had tried everything imaginable to make it stop itching; they had licked each other raw, scratched each other bloody, and rubbed their skin until it was raw. The swelling would go down for a few minutes, but then return with vengeance. Ren's lips were so swollen she couldn't speak anymore. She could only mumble to Kiki through her swollen tissue-paper cheeks. Kiki's eyes were so red and painful she couldn't see anymore. She could only imagine the ghastly look on her lover's face as she stared at it intently in the dark room as they lay together in bed.

"That's what I keep telling you... We haven't even started scratching yet." Kiki turned over onto her stomach and hugged the pillow between her legs. She was naked except for a long white nightgown that reached all the way down to her ankles. Kiki always wore this nightgown when she slept alone because it covered her up from head to toe... And because its silkiness felt nice against her sensitive skin after a long day of work or stress or whatever else life threw at her that day.

"I don't think I can take it much longer," she said into the darkness, "I'm going insane."

"We'll have to find some water tomorrow... Or maybe today..." Ren drifted off into another uneasy slumber. Her mind was tired and confused from lack of sleep and nourishment... But her heart was heavy with sorrow because she knew deep down that there was something wrong with their relationship that led them here in this bleak situation.