The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 116
“Hiss!” Hale sucked in a cold breath, his body stiffening like a rock. “Wait, wait, wait! Is it
in?”
Ten minutes later.
“Ow! Easy! Easy!”
“You said it wouldn’t hurt! Liar!”
“Have mercy! I haven’t even got a girlfriend yet!”
Hale lay face down on the treatment table, screaming bloody murder.
Seeing a six-foot-tall man curled into a ball with tears in his eyes was almost comical. Leilani held back a laugh, her hands remaining steady as a rock. “Don’t move.”
She pressed down on his leg and used one hand to hold his neck, preventing him from thrashing around. Dark blood slowly oozed from the needle points.
“The itching comes from stagnation. Releasing the blood will make you feel better.”
Hale wanted to cry but had no tears left. He gripped the edge of the table, mur incessantly.
CD
“I’m done for, I’m gonna die… Why is the blood black? Am I poisoned? Doc, give it to me straight, is there any hope?”
Leilani was nearly shaking with suppressed laughter. She sighed helplessly. “If you keep moving, the needle will bend and it’ll hurt even more.”
That shut him up immediately. Hale clamped his mouth shut and even breathed softly, though his eyes remained alued to the silver needle as if he were in a standoff with death itself.
Half an hour later, the treatment ended.
પ્રજાની સકે
མེད་ན་ང་ད་དེ་ཅད་རྒྱུད་ཁ་བས་ལམ་ imt-
Leilani collected the needles and applied bandages. “Alright, that’s it for today. I’ll prepare some herbs for you. Remember to take them on time.”
Hale scrambled up like he’d been granted amnesty. He gingerly touched the treated area and suddenly made a surprised noise. Whether it was psychological or real, he noticed that after the bloodletting, the constant, low-level itch was gone.
“Weird, it really doesn’t itch anymore!”
He looked up excitedly, eyes sparkling like a puppy’s. “You’re a miracle worker! You’re
18:43
better than those old specialists at the big hospitals!”
He reached for his phone. “Let’s exchange numbers. I’ll book my next appointment in advance! Oh, and I’m going to leave you a five-star review everywhere. How about ‘Healer of the Century”?”
Leilani was cleaning her instruments and couldn’t help but smile. “Let’s wait until you’re actually cured.”
“For sure!” Hale patted his chest in promise, then suddenly lowered his voice, looking mysterious. “By the way, this thing… it’s really not contagious, right? Last time I went to a pool, the lifeguard stopped me. They thought I had something infectious…”
At the mention of this, Hale drooped his head, looking dejected.
Since his symptoms were entirely on the skin and looked rare, people who didn’t understand the condition often misunderstood It was unavoidable.
“Relax. It’s an autoimmune issue, not a contagious disease,” Leilani said calmly as she washed her hands, analyzing it rationally for him. “However, for safety’s sake, I suggest you avoid public pools for now. Since your skin barrier is compromised, public pools aren’t hygienic enough, and you’re more prone to picking up an infection.”
Hale wilted immediately, mumbling, “I’ve had this for years. Since I got it, I haven’t been able to go anywhere where I have to show skin”
Leilani handed him the packet of herbs, offering some comfort. “If take your medicine and stick to the treatment, you might be able to go swimming by next summer.”
18:43
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.