The UnBroken Circle

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

It only took about 15 minutes to walk to Sonjas house, but to Marx it seemed much longer. After the talk in the subway they felt quite awkward and didn't know what to say. No matter what they might say, it probably would arouse more questions in Sonja, which was totally natural.

But Marx just didn't know, how much they could trust her. So many questions buzzed in their own mind, and they just didn't know what to do. Probably it was for the best to wait and see how things played out.

As they arrived at their destination, and Sonja unlocked the front door, Marx felt quite nervous, so they said in a small voice "I really hope your roommates don't mind me butting in". "Oh no, I don't think so. Plenty of friends from people who live here come by to visit." Sonja replied reassuringly. "How many people live here?" Marx asked as they went up the elevator to the 3rd floor. "We are 6 people all in all." As Sonja opened the apartment door, they were greeted by several noises. People laughing, the sound of a television and a washing machine in the distance. Marx felt quite overwhelmed and just stood in the corridor without knowing what to do. "Welcome to my home!" Sonja said with a warm smile and lead them into her spacious kitchen, somehow sensing Marxs' nervousness. "Hi everyone!" Sonja said loudly. Now seeming unsure herself. "Sonja, where have you been. We have been waiting for you to cook! And who is this person?" a woman said, eyeing Marx suspiciously. "I'm sorry" Sonja rgroaned "but I had to bring stuff back to the library, and then it was raining, and the elevator didn't work at the subway, and also I met Marx here" she continued to explain. Some of the people sitting at the table snorted, Marx wasn't sure if to stifle a laugh or out of contempt, but they felt a knot forming in their stomach. "And do you know this person?" the same woman asked with pursed lips. Continuing to sort the dishes in their designated cupboards. "No, but they're new in Berlin and they don't have any money and need help. "You think you can drag any vagrant home with you?!" the woman barked now almost angry. "I'm sorry, I don't want to bother you, I just was invited for dinner. I don't want anything else" Marx added in a small voice. Marx felt their face redden from shame. They wished Sonja hadn't told this person that they didn't have any money. She meant well, but exactly this fact had put the person, who was seemingly her caregiver, off, and Marx had hoped they might be able to stay over night. But this conversation was going in a bad direction, and they felt their chances of staying here became thinner by the minute . "We only have enough food for us" a young man in a wheelchair sitting at the table declared, eyeing them as if they were some kind of thief. "I told them, that there are always some leftovers, and I thought Marx could stay the night." Sonja argued with defiance in her voice. "You can't just bring anyone here and let them stay in your room overnight. Things like that have to be planned beforehand, you know that." an older woman said in a kinder voice, but still looking at Marx in a weird way. "But friends of others are constantly coming over to visit, whats the difference?!" Sonja said a bit louder than before, nevertheless flopping onto the next sofa, completely exhausted. "Yes, but we know those people, and if somebody gets to know someone new, then they tell us beforehand that they are coming." the caregiver replied in a voice that sounded icy and strict. "I really don't want to make any trouble. Can't she just make a little more food? And I'll be off after dinner" Marx asked, fighting to hold back the tears threatening to come out of their eyes. "No that's not possible, we can only cook as much food for as many people as we planned. Food costs money, you know, and we don't have money to give away to strangers" the woman said almost as if talking to a child , now turning to Marx. "Ok, than I better just go" they muttered and turned to the door. "No, if they have to go then I go too!" Sonja shouted.

Marx didn't know if Sonja was just frustrated or if she really felt compassion for them, because she too had tears in her eyes. But Marx didn't want to be here anymore, no matter if Sonja wanted them to or not. They felt hot and awkward, and wished they could just vanish on the spot. This or similar things had happened to them so often, they just didn't want to go through that again. Even if through pure willpower Sonja managed for them to stay here, the other people would still see them as nothing more than a beggar, and that hurt more than just leaving, even if that meant they had to sleep out in the cold with little or no food.