Violet

9. To cradle and comfort.

I woke up to a loud and persistent knocking on the door. It was as if someone had been desperately trying to wake me up for a long time — and all in vain.

My hair was scattered across the pillow and with my legs and the rest of my body, including my arms, I was tangled in the blanket. I had somehow managed to wrap myself up in it completely during the night, like a real «pastry» from my favorite bakery. My pajama pants and shirt had stuck to me due to the oppressive heat, making it feel like I was in a sauna!

Before I jumped up from the mattress, I glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was almost nine in the morning. Had I overslept? It seemed I had. I usually wake up at seven without an alarm.

I opened the door without asking and my very concerned mother was standing in the doorway.

"Why haven't you come down for breakfast, Violet?" she began as she stepped into the room. "I've been waiting for you for an hour, sitting at the table. I was even starting to worry because you were taking so long. I left my coffee unfinished and came up to you."

My mother stopped in the middle of the room and with a suspicious look — either at me or the space around — she looked around carefully.

Feeling awkward and uncomfortable because I had just woken up, I didn't move and stayed where I was, wanting to get to the shower as soon as possible. A cold shower, preferably.

"I don't know, Mom," I admitted honestly. "I must have slept poorly in a new place. I didn't wake up on time. I don't feel so great too..."

I scratched my knee and straightened up, waiting for my mother to give me instructions for the day. She, still watchful, turned to the window and then back to me:

"Why did you sleep with the window wide open? It only seems hot. At night, it gets cold and drafty. You'll catch a cold like that!" Her eyes focused on my forehead and she started examining my face with a puzzled look. Then, she came very close to me. "What's that, on your forehead?" she asked. Her eyes stayed right there.

Listening to my mother, I touched my forehead a bit nervously:

"Nothing much," I stammered. "What's there?"

"Come here."

Calling me to follow her, my mother walked to the bathroom. The only place in the room with a mirror and I followed her. Once there and standing close, I pressed my face against the mirror to see my reflection.

Everything was just as my mother had noticed. I did have... some kind of red «spot» on my forehead. Even a small mark. Not very noticeable. Probably, I had just slept with my face pressed into the pillow for a long time. That's how the imprint was left.

"Mom, I just woke up!" I explained to my overly panicked mother. "My pajamas are all wrinkled. And they're even wet and my forehead too." I started to complain about everything. "I'll take a shower and come down for breakfast right away. Will you wait for me here?" I turned completely away from the mirror, not really knowing why I wanted to delay her in the room.

I've been taking baths by myself for a long time. What am I afraid of now? Drowning, perhaps? I don't think I'm afraid of anything, but I don't want to be alone. And getting undressed too.

"Change, Violet. I'll wait for you downstairs," my mother said, implicitly refusing my request. "Breakfast is almost over, so I'll make you a sandwich before the table is cleared. Then, we'll all go to the river. To swim." She started heading toward the door. "So don't forget your swimsuit!"

***

After finishing my rather quick bath, I hurriedly put on my one-piece swimsuit. Then shorts and a T-shirt. While brushing my teeth, I rushed around the room in a hurry.