Chapter 1-

The trickle of water turned into rivets which flowed down my back as a mist of steam engulfed me into a cacoon. I felt safe here. As I lathered the coconut scented shampoo in my hair my mind turned the journey ahead. The shower, I find, is a good place to contemplate.

I had just recently turned in my thesis on "Gene Loss as a Mechanism of Tumor Escape from T Cell Therapy", thus completing my PhD. I was now interning at the École Normale Superieure in Paris, the university where I had studied for the last 5 years. I had just been offered a full time job there as a professor of immunology and I was starting my job in less than a fortnight. It was my dream job. So why did I decide to take the head of the university up on the student exchange programme? Admittedly I was a few years older then everyone else partaking, but at the time it seemed like an excellent opportunity. But now it just seemed like a pointless waste of time.

Tomorrow morning I was due to fly to San Fransisco, having never been to America I had no idea what to expect. The whole idea was seeming more and more absurd to me. I still wasn't 100% sure what the name of my exchange partner even was Kel...Kath...Kirst someone?

As the final soap suds made their way down the plug hole, I sighed and stepped out into the icy air. I grimaced as I placed my feet on the stone cold slabs of tile. If there was one upside it was that early spring will at least be warm in America.

Shivering, I wrapped my self up in a towel and stepped towards the mirror. I wiped away some of the condensation and stared at my reflection. Limp, damp curls stuck to my thin cheek bones, there were dark circles under my eyes and I could see the red lines which were slowly creeping across my sclera. I brought my hand up to my face and my fingers danced across the remnants of bruises which once covered my face. I shuddered as the painful memories came flooding back.

"Non" I spoke out loud. "I must not allow myself to look back, looking forward is the only option".

I abruptly turned and headed out of the bathroom. I looked round my pokey 1 bed room flat and noticed a bright postcard sat on the coffee table. On it was a brightly coloured picture of the Golden Gate Bridge and en-scrawled on the back was "cannot wait to meet you! Lots of love Kirsten xoxoxo"

So that was her name I thought as I mused over her slightly childish handwriting style.

Merde, I looked at my watch. My flight left in 10 hours and I hadn't even begun packing yet.

I grabbed my suitcase and began hurrying about.

I rushed around picking up clothes, books, papers, toiletries and tried to pack as much stuff in as neatly as I could. At least I had remembered to get my exchange partner a gift. I placed in an Eiffel Tower key chain, some post cards of the city and some French chocolates. I sighed as I stepped back admiring my handy work which came together in such a small space of time. I zipped up my suitcase and headed to my bedroom.

The lamp lit the room in a warmish hue which made the whiteness of my walls feel more homely. I dropped my towel and slipped under the covers before the cool air cut through me. Wrapping the sheets around me I huddled into a ball and drifted off into an uneasy sleep.

The shrill alarm startled me awake as the dim sunlight drifted trough the window. Another beautiful foggy day in Paris, I thought. I quickly got dressed into some leggings, a baggy t-shirt and a woollen jumper. I scraped my hair back into a loose pony tail, my hair I felt, looked exceptionally wild today. No make up was needed for a 12 hour flight.

After shovelling down a dull and simple breakfast I grabbed my luggage and headed out the door. My phone buzzed in my pocket.

"The university wishes you a safe journey and we look forward to you starting your new position in the university when you return.

Sincerely Professor Neil Le Blanc."

The airport was heaving and due to the thick fog which descended down on Paris I was late for my flight. I arrived just before the gates were closed. I found my seat on the plane and placed my head phones in my ears, blocking out the world around me as I saw us rise up above the clouds. I turned my head and saw something that turned my blood cold and brought tears to my eyes. I quickly swivelled around before he could see me. The thoughts were becoming harder and harder to block out.