Todd scooted closer and began to lightly wash her back, making circles with the sponge over her scarred and marred pale skin. Old scars like these took longer to heal with the enzyme treatment, otherwise they too would have disappeared. But her ribs, having been black and blue and a variety of other colors these past few weeks were now unmarked.

He dragged the sponge along her shoulders to between the shoulder blades and down her spine, working in a steady but relaxed pace.