He watched in the mirror as the blood followed a slow, convoluted path and dribbled down his neck. The hand holding the razor froze, as a paralyzing thought pounded his brain. What if she doesn’t recognize me? Frightened and horrified, he stood in his underwear and stared into the mirror.
Moments later, his attention returned to the razor cut dribbling a growing amount of blood onto the soft folds of skin that coursed across his neck. Rick Steps snatched a wad of toilet paper and dabbed at the blood. Too much blood. He collected another wad and pressed it hard against the stinging razor nick, holding it until he thought it would stop bleeding.
He left a torn sheet of toilet paper stuck to the slit in his neck, knowing from experience it would stanch the flow of blood and allow him to continue shaving. Negative, troubling thoughts continued to plague him until he finished up, removed the toilet paper, and made sure the wound would not bleed anymore.
The high school reunion dinner would begin at six tonight at the local country club. Everyone would have to walk up the grand entrance stairs to the upper level where the welcoming committee would be waiting. Chrissie Manuess would be among them.
The room was not warm, but a cold sweat broke out, sending rivulets of perspiration running into his eyes He grabbed a hand towel and pressed it against his face and wiped the sweat from his eyes.
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