The young couple lay silently in bed together, no one daring to speak..

The bruise on his eye and forehead stung, bandages wrapped around his arm as he stared up at the ivory ceiling of their chambers.

"...does it hurt?" His wife's soft voice asked, yet he did not look at her.

"I'm used to it... Ever since I was 13." He said vaguely, feeling a tear well up in his eye yet he remained quiet, shifting to his side and facing his back towards her so that she could not see the tear. "...You are the first person who has ever asked me if it hurts."