Broken Charms

Arriving in Athens: Part Two

“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”

― Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

 ---Harry---

“OH! There you are. I’ve been searching everywhere for you.” Astrid appeared from the door I had come in just as I was beginning to wonder where I had come from last night. The dance hall had no doors except the one I had come in. Its wall were covered with mirrors.

“Where did you come from?” I asked mystified. I hadn’t seen a door as I navigated myself through her room.

“Through the trap door.” She explained.

“Trap door?” I asked mystified. People still created trap doors in their houses?

“Come. I’ll show you. I’ve brought breakfast and Maria brought your suitcase to my room.” she took my hand and led back down stairs to her bedroom.  My stomach growled in response to the word food.

On her floor beside her bed there were two huge plates stuffed with food and two glasses of orange juice.

“I didn’t know what you liked so I brought everything.” She said as she sat in front of her plate resting her back at the bed. I did the same taking a look at the food she  had brought me.  I was so  hungry that I didn’t speak for a long time as we ate.

“So do you like my room?” she said.

“Yeah. But where is the door? How did I get in last night?”

“there are two doors. You’re sitting on the one I got in today and the other which you got in last night, well I’ll show it to you once we’re finished. I’m going to give you a tour at the house before we leave for Aunt Marian’s house.” She explained. I looked beside me and saw a small door handle that I hadn’t noticed before.

“Why do you have a trap door?”

“When my family came to live to this house this room and the one above it was meant to be the attic. The dance hall above us was Michael’s room but when my mother was in her denial phase, decided to change it, to transform it into something Michael would really love. A dance hall. It is the highest room in our house. I used to find shelter there when I was younger. I still do sometimes. It’s so quite up there.” She explained.

“You seriously need to tell the story of this house. It seems so ancient. Plus your room looks awesome. Did you made all this?” I asked gesturing to the collages.

“Yeah. It was the period I had decided I didn’t want to do anything with my life and making collages as a free time activity made sense back then.”

“they’re brilliant.” I managed to say. We continued eating silently for a few minutes when a thought crossed my mind as I looked at her wearing her pjs, a tank top and a pair of shorts.

“Astrid, can I ask you something?”  I said my cheeks were already burning with heat.

“Sure.” She said oblivious to the fact that I was going to ask her the most awkward question ever. But I had to.

“When are we going to ‘sleep’ together?” I asked emphasizing to the word sleep.

“Oh!” was all she managed to say.

“I mean we don’t have to… err…. You have done it again, haven’t you?” I was more embarrassed than ever. I shouldn’t have brought up the subject.  What the hell was I asking?”

“Yeah, of course. Soon, I guess.” She said simply much cooler that I was.  I decided to settle for her answer and not pressure her for more. Soon. That would have to do for now. i think.