Mia was dreaming something. Her breathe was short and noisy. She didn't snore; she had difficulties to breathe freely. She was unsettled. She hardly moved, she hardly whispered a word. However, she was very disturbed. Her muscles were tensed like a bow right before an arrow starts to fly. She tried not to cough, but he felt she needed it. He took her very carefully and set her between his legs. He laid her head at his chest and covered her with the blanket. He kept her in his arm and stroked her arms to relax her. It worked. She was calmer. In this position, it was more comfortable and easier for her to inhale. She started to breathe regularly again. He caressed her the whole night. It helped.
Julian thought about what he should do now. Should he show himself or should he stay in the background? Both options seemed to be wrong. Julian wasn't sure how she would react and how much he should tell her about himself. First of all, he wanted to look at her in the daylight. Now he couldn't think about her wounds, because it would unsettle him and he wanted her to sleep well. He had to do what it takes to treat her injuries. Apparently, there wasn't only the cut that he already knew about. There were more injuries and bruises on her body. He tried not to remember the picture of her standing in front of the mirror.
He stroked her and at the same time, he tried to deactivate his mind. He attempted to see her smile in his memories. However, it was a difficult. He didn't know if he was right or wrong, but it was no reason to stop thinking. He was too ruffled and churning.
He lost his sense of time and because they were in the bathroom, he couldn't see how late it really was. She was waking up slowly and he leaned her at the bathtub the same way she had laid herself down yesterday. She coughed and took her hand in front of mouth. Her hand was bloody. He was shaken, but he tried to stay calm. He went away and left her apartment. He was so quick that nobody would notice it, even if he were visible.
He stayed at the staircase and waited until he heard her coughing. He couldn't wait longer, but he forced himself to stay at his place and not to touch anything. His hands were shaking. His legs were quivering. He was very nervous. He had to wait just for the moment she comes out from the bathroom and then he wanted to knock at her door.
Finally, Mia came out of the bathroom and Julian was prepared to knock. In this moment, her telephone rang. Julian took his hand away from the door and stood like paralysed.
It cost her much effort to come quite flowing to the telephone.
-Yes? – She whispered.
-So you’re still alive. – said a voice on the other end. It was a male voice. It was a person between 35 and 55 years old.
Mia didn't comment on it.
-Take three weeks off, my dear, we will not see us soon again. I have to arrange some things and I am already looking forward to your participation in celebrating Children’s Day. Be there as you always are. Moreover, try to look better next time. We don't want you to finish this game too early. – This voice was calm, calculated and very ironically. It was a voice of a cruel person. Even if Julian didn't know a lot about this situation, he knew from the beginning what kind of criminal the offender was.
-That’s four weeks. – She corrected.
-It really doesn't matter, my dear, but you are right: four weeks. You get some holidays. Don't do anything stupid, I keep watching you.
Then the call was finished and Mia put down the phone.
Julian wondered how appropriate it would be to knock right now. It would be ridiculous. He sat down on the stairs and waited for some other idea. It wasn't the best thing to surprise her right now. She had some bad influence in her life and the last thing she needed was his knock-knock action right now. It should rather look like a coincidence. Nevertheless, going out in her condition wasn't a good idea. On the other hand, if Mia wouldn't leave home - and it would be cruel to force her to do it – there was no chance for him to meet her accidentally. If she was observed, it wouldn't be good to stand on the street and scream her name until she looks out of a window. Additionally, she should not get to know that he knew her real address.
In fact, the only chance to meet her, was when she left the her apartment. However, how do you lure a person out of her flat? She coughed badly and he had to do something.