Obstinate.

It wasn't like losing an eye in the midst of having fun-
The splinter slipped in quietly, nestling under her skin. It wasn't til later, with the hot sun setting on another summer afternoon, that it made itself known. The day had been great as usual- escaping the house for the entire day always was. They would play in the empty block at the end of the street, take trips to the corner shop to slurp ice-blocks that were blissfully inexpensive, lay down on the baking concrete driveway, pretending they could shrink clouds into nothingness (simply finding shapes in the sky wasn't enough for them).

It wasn't til later, pulling the garden gate closed behind her, she felt the tiny, throbbing pain that was the fraction of wood that had become a part of her. Squinting, she examined her finger.

She pushed her forefinger gently with her thumb. Thrilling at the jolt of hurt she felt. The culprit had been found. She was shocked by the ache this tiny fleck of black could cause. Biting her lip, she considered her options. No doubt- the splinter had to be removed. She couldn't bear the thought of it finding its way into her blood stream, destined to pierce her heart. It had enough puncture wounds as it was.


The missing car meant her mum wasn't home from work yet, but the electrical buzz of the tv alerted her to the fact that her father was. There was a time she would have called out for his help. Needed him.
Once upon a time. But it was hard to remember that far back.

The splinter throbbed again. It was annoyed her thoughts had strayed.

Ignoring the imminent tears, she raised her finger to her lips and sucked out the poison.