'You don't love him,' Thomas answered quielty.
'Excuse me?' 'You don't love him,' Thomas repeated louder. 'Why would you leave him if you love him? You moved to England.'
'I said they thought I was missing,' I said.
'Then why didn't you tell him you wanted to move?'
'Impossible' I answered.
'What are you talking about?' Thomas frowned his eyebrows.
'It's impossible to tell him.'
'Why?'
'He'll be angry. He's an alcoholic, Thomas. He became an alcoholic after his little brother died. He blamed everything on me the day I left. He said it was my fault his little brother died, and I don't even know how it could be my fault! He was angry and hit me. I was affraid and ran away,' I explained and I began to cry
Thomas said nothing and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me closer. He stroke me hair and whispered: 'It'll be okay. Everything will be okay. Don't cry, love.'
I pulled away after 5 minutes and looked up to face Thomas. He smiled gently and looked at his watch.
'It's 11 p.m, you can stay here if you want,' he said as he wiped a tear away with his thumb.
'There's only one bed.'
'I can sleep on the ground,' he said.
'No, you can't sleep on the ground,' I said.
'Then I'll sleep on the couch.'
'You're going to catch a cold.'
'I won't,' he said.
I sat on the bed and sighed. Thomas pushed me down to the bed and sat next to me. 'Now try to have some sleep,' he whispered and he pulled the covers up to my chin.
'Good night,' he said as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. He walked to the door and turned off the light.
'Night,' I said and I closed my eyes. The darkness took me into a nightmare.
***
I walked downstairs to see Michel frying eggs.
'That smells delicious,' I said smiling as I wrapped my arms around his torso.
'Go away, Lina,' he said.
My smile disappeared and I walked to the couch.
After a few minutes Michel walked to me with the eggs on a plate. 'I made it with love,' he said, handing me the plate. And he came closer, trying to kiss me. I pulled away when I smelled his breath.
'Are you drunk?' I asked.
'Drunk? Of course not, darling,' he said.
'Don't deny it. I can smell it,' I said a little angry.
Suddenly his mood changed. He became angry. 'Then why you ask me?' He shouted. 'You're so damn stupid!'
'Stop it Michel,' I said quietly. 'Our neighbours can hear you.'
'Do I look like I care?' he was still screaming and he put the plate away. 'I'm making you a breakfast and the only thing you can do is being a bitch!'
He raised his hand and it landed hard on my cheek.
'Michel, please. Stop it,' I begged. Tears filled my eyes.
'Stop it? No! I should beat the stupidity out of you! You're fucking crazy!' Again his hand touched the cold air and landed on my cheek. He came closer to me and placed his hand on my chin, forcing me to look at him. 'Everything is your fault. My little brother died. And that's because of you,' he whispered.
I brought my hand up until it reached my cheek. It felt warm and I'm sure it's as red as a tomato.
'I can't believe I fucking married you,' he said and he placed the bottle with alcohol on his mouth. Drinking it and put it down again. 'You're only good to earn our money. That's it. You even can't clean the house,' he added.
'That's because you...' I said
'I what?' he said.
I looked to the ground.
'Answer me!' he shouted.
I was still looking to the ground when Michel came to me. His empty bottle with alcohol in his hand. His eyes are filled with anger. He raised the bottle above my head and dropped it. I saw the bottle twisting above my head.
***
Before the bottle could touch my head, my eyes flew open. A scream left my mouth. My cheeks were wet. I sat up and Thomas opened the door.
'Aline! What the hell is going on?' he said gasping.
'It... It was just a nightmare.' I threw myself on the bed again.
He sighed and walked to my bed. 'Tell me about it. Or else you'll keep getting the same nightmare,' he said while he sat on my bed.
'It was about... Michel,' I began.
'Who is Michel?'
'The boy I married in Germany. Anyways, he was drunk again and was angry because I asked him if he was drunk. He said I can't do anything good. He called me stupid, blamed the dead of his little brother again on me and...' I took a deep breath and a sob left my mouth '... he hit me. Serveral times.'
'Was it a dream or a flashback?' Thomas asked while he rubbed my back. 'I don't know. I'm afraid it was the second,' I said still sobbing.
'Hey, it's okay. You're safe here. This isn't Germany. I'll go with you to Germany and protect you,' Thomas said and he gave me a drink.
'No, I don't need protection. I don't need help. And the most of all; I don't need you. Can you please leave me alone...' I quietly said.
He nodded and walked to the door. Again he turned off the lights and shut the door.
I woke up at 5 a.m. and took a little paper. I searched a pen and when I found a pen I began to write;
'Dear Thomas,
Thanks for offering me your bed last night. Thanks for listening to me and thanks for the things you gave me to make me feel better. I appreciate it a lot. I feel bad about what I said to you before you left my room. I'm sorry.
Now I have to go. Germany is waiting for me. Thanks for everything.
Goodbye.'
I took my suitcase I packed last night I folded the paper and I put the paper on his table and walked away. I quietly opened the hotel door. I walked trough the hallways towards the door. The cold air touched my face as I walked through the door. I took a deep breath and took one last look at the hotel. Thomas' room was on the street side so I could see his room. My heart skipped a beat when I saw his lights go on. The curtains moved to the left and I saw him opening the doors of his balcony. I walked away before he could see me and took the first bus to the airport.
