I'll be fine. [ That doesn't sound terribly believable, she doesn't think. ] It's hard to do something that hurts you at all, but I can handle it if it's to help. [ Her fingers tighten over his, certain even if a little tense. It's not easy to do this, but it is worth it - or will be, she hopes. She's not going to screw this up now.

She can feel him looking after a moment, opens her eyes again and manages just a tiny bit of a smile for him, shakes her head. ] You don't need to cut anything off. I need to know.