Does It Hurt?

"Mr. Carroll?" My eyes were red. I saw Carroll and wanted to cry in his arms. "I was scared to death. So horrible. "Your brother and grandma are more horrible than ghosts. Look! How hard he slapped me!" I raised my red cheek to let Carroll check it. Carroll put some of my loose hair behind my ear and then saw on my fair face a clear palmprint. "Does it hurt?" His eyebrows were knitted into a frown. "Yes, yes, yes." I nodded and cried louder. "Of course, it hurts. His hand is bigger than my head." My face was smaller than my head.  This slap from Nathan was as hard as a strike caused by a rod. I should feel lucky that I didn't black out.  I didn't dare to imagine the consequence if Nathan hit my temple.  An icebag appeared out of the blue, and Carroll pressed on my red cheek. "Do you feel regretful?" "About what?" I stopped crying and asked. "Marrying me?" Carroll took the ice bag away from my cheek, adjusted it, and then placed it back on my face. I tilted my head and leaned on Carroll