- This ride is for free ma’am. If you ever need me, you can call me on this number.

The cab guy was a good guy.

Not the best, of course. But he at least treated her as a human being.

Christina opened the door to her house.

The glass pieces were scattered on the floor, and the house was quiet.

“I should clean those tomorrow”

Christina couldn’t think much right now. The things that happened were too intense. It was too much for a single night.

She closed and locked the door, took a bottle from the drawer, gulped a large amount of hard liquor and then laid down on the sofa. It took her only a few seconds to fall on a deep and dreamless sleep.

It was later that night. Around dawn. Christina felt herself being carried and woke naked on her bed.

For a moment, she felt relieved. She was extremely drunk and could barely see what was happening to her.

“At least he is taking care of me.” - Is what she initially thought. “At least that…”.

However, right at the next moment, she felt her breasts being groped and sucked.

- No… don’t…

- Comme on Christina! Didn’t you say you didn’t want me to stop seeing Fernanda? I have needs, so why don’t you let me do it just a bit?

Why now of all times?!

Christina couldn’t but feel a deep sadness, as if the world had collapsed on her.

- You had a good time tonight. I saw your neck you know.

Silent tears filled her eyes at first, but now they would stream down continuously.

- We are even now, so why don’t you let me have some as well? I’m your husband, am I not?

“Are you going to stop seeing this Fernanda?” - Was one of the things Christina thought at the moment but didn’t had the strength to ask.

- It’s fine, you don’t have to say anything. I will put it in, okay? If you want for me to stop, just say it.

Christina felt like her lips weighted many tons. Her whole body did so. A huge wave of depression assaulted her, and, not matter how much she wanted to take him away and command him to stop, all she could do was to cry.

***

She didn’t go to work that morning. She slept all day long instead. It wasn’t until it was noon that she managed to wake up with a towel on her forehead.

- Grandma.

Christina looked to the woman at her side. Sitting on her wheelchair, she had a look of apprehension on her face.

- I contracted a girl to come and clean the house. She has done it already. I also called your boss and said you had a high fever. You can rest.

- I will be fired if I don’t go to work…

- Doesn’t matter. I will pay for everything while you recover.

Sasha took the towel on her forehead and dipped it into water.

- Okay.

Christina rested her head against the pillows. The money from her parents was supposed to go to her, but, from the many resources the government owned her and her parents, that was the most difficult of all to get. Instead, other were easier, such as the money her grandmother received as reparation from Squeam way better in the day.

She would never say how much she had, but it shouldn’t be too much - otherwise, why would she still be living with her?

Christina drank a little bit of water and rested for the rest of the day. Her husband was nowhere to be seen.