Nothing's in my way

Chapter 6

The next day I woke up surprisingly rested. Kristoff was no longer in the room and breakfast was ready on the table. I got up, scratched my body, which itched like never before, with some desperation, and looked curiously through the door to see if they had already gone to work.

Upon opening, I felt the terrible cold of the morning and the incredible warmth of that man who was playing with his reindeer friend while... 'Yuck!', they shared carrots again.

"Anna! Morning. Have you slept well?"

Sven came lovingly to meet me and I realized that never in my memory I had been greeted with such enthusiasm.

"Good morning," I answered petting Sven. "I slept very well, thank you. Is the breakfast on the table for me?"

"You've already seen it? Yes, it's yours."

'Like it had a lot of room to hide...'

"And you?"

"I've already eaten."

"Sure..."

'A balanced breakfast based on carrots and reindeer drooling.'

"We're going to work now. Today we'll arrive much sooner, so we can still go out to show you the area so that you know where you can walk and where it's dangerous. In the meantime, make yourself at home, okay?"

"No, thanks."

Kristoff offered me an awkward glance and I realized what I seemed to have said.

"No! I mean, great to go out and stuff! What I don't want is to feel like in the castle."

The freedom and warmth I was feeling in a small, icy wooden room were not comparable to the feeling of cold and loneliness I had grown up with.

His lips became in a mournful smile and he nodded before getting on the sleigh.

"Make yourself at the home you want to live in."

And with the breath of those words, they set course for the frozen lakes leaving my heart subtly shaken.

That day was a little different from the previous one. The feeling of freedom and tenderness was disturbed by the terrible itch that invaded my body. No matter how much it scratched me, it didn't seem like it meant to stop. I inspected myself for signs of biting or intoxication, but couldn't find anything. My head itched, my face, my neck, my legs, my hands, my back, everything! Absolutely the whole body!

When Kristoff and Sven got back, my nerves were already on edge.

"We're back."

"What's this?!" I yelled desperately showing him my completely red arms from scratching myself.

Clearly, this wasn't the welcome Kristoff expected, but he didn't seem particularly surprised, either. Without a word he entered, closed the door behind him, and opened a small cabinet next to the bed. From there he took out a glass vial which he handed me immediately.

"Smear this. The cold and dry mountain climate is drying out your skin, that's why it itches you. I smear it me almost every day and sometimes it still itches."

"It's just that?"

"I think so."

"Thank you!"

I began to spread my arms in a hurry and I was quickly noticing how that oil had a balm effect on my skin.

"God, that feels better..."

"Use as much as you need, I have more. I'm going to get water in the meantime so you have... privacy."