Janet sat curled in a soft towel, her eyes wide with worry. Her little hand was still swollen from the deep wound she’d arrived with—now wrapped carefully in white gauze that had grown dirty and loose over the past few days. It was time to change it.
But Janet remembered the pain. The first time they touched her wound, she cried so much her whole body trembled. Now, even the sight of the vet’s table made her cling tighter to Mama Lian’s shirt.
“It’s okay, baby,” Lian whispered, kissing the top of her head. “Just a new bandage. No more pain.”
The vet, gentle and calm, warmed her hands before touching Janet. She unwrapped the old gauze slowly. Janet flinched—but didn’t scream this time. The wound had started to heal, and the angry red swelling had gone down. Still, the skin was tender, and the memory of pain lingered in her tiny chest.
“There we go,” the vet whispered, brushing away dried pus with warm water and salt. “You’re healing so well, little one.”
Janet whimpered softly but didn’t pull away. Her trust was growing.
The new bandage was fresh, clean, and wrapped with care. A soft pink layer this time—smaller, lighter. It didn’t squeeze her skin. It felt… safe.
When the vet was done, Lian scooped her up and rocked her gently.
“You did so well,” she whispered. “So brave, Janet.”
Janet blinked up with tired eyes, her small hand twitching against Lian’s chest. It still hurt—but not like before. She leaned in closer, letting out a tiny sigh.
