Bathed

“Wait,” Amanda said causing Coach Stevens to stop in her track. “Would you… would you bathe me?”

Coach Stevens raised an eyebrow but nodded. “Sure.”

Coach Stevens rolled up her sleeves as Amanda repositioned herself, letting her coach scrub her clean. “What do I call you?” Amanda asked.

“You can call me Carolyn or Carrie,” Coach Stevens said. “I don’t mind either.”

Amanda blushed as she felt Carrie’s hands on her chest. “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Amanda said. “Is this… is this really going to last all my years of college?”

“I’m afraid so,” Carrie said. “But I’ll be with you the whole way. I promise. I need to tell you right now, this program is ruthless. There’s probably going to be a lot of things that you don’t want to do, but you have to. If there is ever a time where you need someone to talk to, know that you can talk to me. Whatever you tell me behind closed doors, I’ll keep to myself. Okay?”

Amanda nodded. Then with beady eyes she looked at her coach, and said. “I’m scared.”

Carrie wrapped her arms around Amanda. “It’s okay to be scared,” she said.

Amanda nodded as she let Carrie hold her, her shoulders relaxing as she did. With that, Carrie finished bathing Amanda and then gently helped her out of the tub. Amanda dried herself with the towel and almost instinctively reached for clothes before remembering she didn’t get any. Carrie looked at her phone. “Your bags are delivered,” Carrie said. “Let’s get you unpacked.”

Amanda nodded as she followed her coach out of the bathroom.