Nineteen

“Here, let me help.” Strong hands tilted my face up, directly towards the warm water. There was no way to mistake his voice. Andreas had stepped into the bathroom and now watched me struggle naked.

“Shhh, relax.” I held onto the strong arms whimpering, coughing because someone in my struggle I had swallowed a bit of soapy water and now felt like I was drowning. “Open your eyes. That’s it, there. You’re okay. See?” The burning soon disappeared as he brushed my face lightly.

“Carla.” I whimpered.

“She’s held up downstairs. I heard your screams and came rushing in. And thank god I did, you were about to break your neck.” I knew it was not intentional, but also this was anything but right. “Close your eyes, I have to get rid of the soap on your hair.” He waited until I closed my eyes. The water ran once again down my face. A stone statue, that’s what I had become. Here I was, sitting naked in a plastic chair and nowhere to go or nothing else to do but to sit there and wish for the eart