Curiosity

He knelt in their bedroom, on the hardwood floor. It hurt the tops of his feet. The area rug lay just inches from him; she could easily have put him there. It would have been softer...and warmer too. In his underwear, he shivered in the coolness of the room.

She came back in. She was carrying a large, flat, black box, tied up with a white satin ribbon. He heard what sounded like balls, or tubes, rolling back and forth inside. She set it down on the floor in front of him.

"Happy birthday," she said, softly.

"My present?"

"Of course. All for you."

He reached out to pick up the box. They were tubes; he could feel the weight shifting heavily from side to side. He was about to undo the ribbon when she interrupted him.

"There is...one condition. Before you open the box, you have to agree to accept whatever's inside."

He considered the box. He shook it lightly, and he thought he heard the unpleasant ring of glass against glass.

"Not so hard," she told him. "Here, you better hand it back to me."

He held the box out for her, chuckling nervously. "Is this a gift for you or for me?"

She took it from him and he watched her put it on the dresser behind her. "Oh, it's for you all right. I just didn't say I'd let you use it."

He paused, breathing heavily. "You know I don't like needles. All that metal, the tubes, oh god, you know I can't even stand it when they take a blood sample at the--"

She cut him off. "How do you know they're needles?"

This was a new perspective. He looked at the box again, narrowing his eyes. "Oh, well, then, I guess you--"

She cut him off again. "How do you know they're not needles?"

He gave a start, and she chuckled at his discomfiture. She leaned down close to him, and her voice hushed to almost a whisper. "I'll let you in on a secret. They're either needles..." She straightened up again, and continued, "...or they're candlesticks. I know how you love the feel of hot wax. Well, usually." She chuckled again.

He looked at the box again. He had to flick away a bit of sweat on his eyelashes. "Could I take a look at it again?"

"Don't be ridiculous. Not now." She looked down at him. "Now, do you promise to accept whatever's in the box?"

He looked away, licking his lips uncertainly. "I could always say no, after."

"Mmm, no you can't," she said firmly. "You can't back out."

He swallowed, and turned his face to look at her. "Isn't there an easier way?"

She shook her head. "Mm mm."

He looked down, and she could see his lips mouth the words, "Oh god, please," but no sound came out. Then he took a deep breath, looked up again, and said to her, "Please. I have to...I have to know."

"Promise."

He closed his eyes. "Yes. I will."

She smiled coolly, and leaned down to kiss his sweaty forehead, but some of his matted hair got in the way. That was OK. Then she turned around to open the box.