Chapter 32

One day someone hugged you so tight that all the broken pieces will stick together.

I got out of the bath and wrapped myself directly in a blanket to avoid too great a thermal shock. I sat down on the stool which faced the antique whitish dressing table.

The reflection of my bare makeup face testified to long years of suffering, remnants of dark circles hollowed out the skin below my eyes, my pale complexion told of a cloistered childhood in my sunless room.

With my left arm, I brushed a lock of rebellious hair over the top of my head when, in a frizzy reflection, I caught the halo of my scarred wrist.

Immediately I looked away and fussed over makeup pretending I hadn't seen anything.

I carefully applied concealer, foundation, blush and powder.

Putting on makeup made me forget everything.

Then I slid the brush filled with eyeliner on the base of my lashes, leaving an intense black line in its path. I drew the twins of this line on my second eye and then I gently applied mascara .

With each brush stroke my eyelashes thicken and lengthen creating a smoky look.

Then I ran my hand through my hair which undid the knots but not the slight natural curls.

I then gently applied black varnish on my long nails with rectangularly cut edges, applying myself not to exceed.

I waited for it to dry while looking out the window, the landscape which could at first sight be banal seemed so magical to me. , emerald green, floated in the wind. There was the same tree at the bottom of our garden, my sister and I were constantly climbing it, inventing stories each crazier than the other. Then, one day, my sister fell from the tree.

I'll be my arms around my small chest as my stomach tightens.

She hadn't had anything serious just a few bruises but for my mother it was my fault, it was my ideas of tomboys that had poisoned her mind. I had taken a monumental slap that day.

I don't know why I started to suffocate, cramped in this huge castle. I tried to breathe but my breath wouldn't renew itself.

Letting my feet guide me I found myself facing Vladimir's room. I opened the door on the fly not even understanding my impulse. I entered inside without asking permission to enter and saw him in front of his dressing room with only a jogging bottom. He looked at me, frowning but I didn't care. I walked over to him and literally jumped into his arms.

I was driven by my past and it squeezed my chest.

At first in shock he stiffened but soon he wrapped his muscular arms around my waist, hugging me to his hard, bare chest.

- YOU'RE A GOOD FOR NOTHING! yelled my mother.

I lowered my head in shame because of an accident that was not my fault.

- IF YOU ENJOY PUTTING YOUR LIFE IN DANGER, SO BE IT BUT DON'T INVOLVE YOUR SISTER IN YOUR STORIES

A slap flew and landed on my right cheek. It burned me as I had to hold back my hot, salty tears.

- SHE IS DESTINED FOR SOMETHING GREATER NEVER MAKE HER RISK HER LIFE AGAIN!

- Shhhhh, whispers Vladimir in a soft voice, calm down.

My breath was jerky and I couldn't get air into my lungs compressed under the weight of memories.

With the back of his hand he caressed my cheek which was not stuck against his pectorals while my eyes were closed.

I squeezed him slightly tighter. I don't know why, but I needed to feel him close to me, to touch him. I needed him badly.

He ran his hand through my hair, gently tugging on it. At that moment I wondered which of us really needed that touch.

Slowly, like when the moon gives way to the sun, I caught my breath and fed my lungs with oxygen again.

He rested his head on top of mine and I shuddered at the contact.

His hand moved up and down my back.

When I regained control of my being I gently unstuck myself from him.

- I... I don't know what got into me, sorry, I babbled.

He smiles irresistibly before adding:

- Go get dressed, we're leaving in thirty minutes.

I lowered my head to my body and noticed that I was only wearing a bath towel. I flushed scarlet noticing my bare thighs from the middle.

My biggest complex was visible for miles around when I used to hide it as much as possible.

- Uh... or... yes I'll do that, I say, hurrying out of his room.

I almost ran to mine to avoid meeting anyone, I opened my door on the fly and, when I slammed it, I stuck against it.

I put two fingers over my mouth as it widened into a smile.

In the distance I captured my reflection on the standing mirror, and noticed my blissful smile as well as my eyes shining with drunkenness.

What the hell is happening to me?