Elaine Mallory [The Dresden Files] (finessing) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-05-28 18:44:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, anya corazon (spider-girl), elaine mallory |
Raindrops on Roses & Whiskers on Kittens
WHO: Elaine & Corazon
WHAT: Cora comes of age (narrative)
WHEN: this morning (Tuesday, 5/28)
WHERE: the Mallory house
WARNINGS: PMS (and brief discussion of feminine hygiene products)
Elaine was in the laundry room, folding sheets to bring downstairs to the wellness room, when she heard a very small voice calling for her from the other room. Mommy? She turned, half expecting to see a small girl in the doorway, but was reminded for the umpteenth time that her little girl was growing up when she saw the empty box of tampons in Cora’s hand.
“Mommy?” Cora said again, blinking teary eyes, “There’s only one left.”
Elaine rushed to her daughter’s side, pulling the girl into a warm hug. “I’m sorry, Cora, I should have thought of that when we were shopping. I meant to talk about this with you again...”
“I remember the talk,” Cora said, “And I remember how to use them. I just...thought you should know.” She held on to Elaine with one arm, and let the hand holding the box hang down at their sides. “I couldn’t find any pads.”
“I’m sorry,” Elaine murmured yet again. She seemed to be apologizing a lot. “We can go out and buy some right now. If you don’t like the kind I use, then you can pick out anything you want.” She rubbed the small of Corazon’s back, letting healing warmth diffuse through muscles and joints. “How are you feeling?”
Cora let out a sigh at the touch of reiki, and curled up against her mother’s shoulder. “Better now. Do you always feel so...heavy?”
“No, not always,” Elaine said, stroking Cora’s long hair. “You’ll want to drink plenty of water to help ease the cramping and the heavy feeling. You can take a little ibuprofen, too, and if that doesn’t help, let me know, and we’ll find something that does. I’ll show you how to count your cycle, so you can learn when to expect it.”
Which reminded her, she should check her own calendar. She ought to be due to start her cycle sometime soon. “Would you like to go anywhere special for lunch today, sweetheart?”
Cora shook her head. “I feel yucky.”
“Okay.” Elaine rubbed Cora’s back a little longer. She could feel Cora’s tears soaking through the front of her shirt. “Why don’t you take a nice, warm bath, and I’ll bring you some kombucha to wash down the ibuprofen? I’ll run to the store today, and we can go shopping together when you’re feeling better.”
Cora was quiet for a long moment, and then came a tearful, “Can I have a lavender sachet?”
“Yes, honey,” Elaine said, trying not to cry--or worse yet, laugh in order to keep from crying--herself. “You can have a lavender sachet in your bath.” She kissed her on the top of the head. “I’ll be back in just a little while.”