The heavy curtains gave no hint of light, no indication of time, no clue as to whether it was day or night. In the room something seemed unfamiliar as she lay staring at where the door should be. It wasn’t there. Still half asleep she turned to see if it was on her other side, and it was then that her arm encountered a body. In seconds her brain recalled the sequence of events that had led to her present confusion. She’d shared a drink with Ratty in his room as agreed. A vodka, Polish vodka, very good vodka, especially with apple juice, a common combination in Poland. She’d had a second as they talked about their work back home and the work they’d completed here, then the conversation moved to families, her family, her husband, her relationship. The apple juice ran out and so she had vodka with vodka. She revealed to Ratty the problems within her marriage. Tim’s inability to listen to her, to show affection of the kind a woman needs, kindness, caressing and understanding. She knew Ratty understood, his strong but gentle arm around her was testimony to this.
