Disclaimer: The main characters don't belong to me, but the rest does.

Listening recommendation for this chapter: Nisi Dominus: 'Cum dederit', sung by Philippe Jaroussky.

—

Dear Diary,

Erik really can be sweet sometimes.

During our lesson today I was becoming really frustrated, because I was so exhausted from an all-nighter I had to pull for an English assignment, as well as stressed about school in general, that I just wanted to collapse and curl up on the floor. I don't think there's much that's as horrible as sleep deprivation; it' s such a sweaty, feverish, hopeless sort of feeling. I really feel for full-time insomniacs.

After I snapped at Erik after he corrected me over something I already knew I'd done wrong, he stopped the lesson, and asked me what was wrong.

I told him I was just really tired, but couldn't afford to go to bed early because I still had loads of homework. To that, he replied that I was in no fit state either to sing or to do homework, and what I needed was to 'refresh' myself. I asked him what he meant by that.

He said, very sternly, "First, you're going to drink some water and have a snack. Then, you're going to take a half hour nap. Then we'll go for a short walk outside."

I protested that it was raining.

"That's perfect: you'll sleep all the better because of it, and our walking will be extra-refreshing, too. Now, let's get you a snack."

I did just as he said. I had some water and a cereal bar, then went upstairs for my nap. I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. When he woke me up by knocking on the door, I wanted nothing more than to stay in bed, but he insisted I get up. I washed my face and brushed my teeth in an attempt to feel less icky, put on my shoes and coat, grabbed my umbrella, and off we went.

It was surprisingly calming, walking slowly in the rain, and the bracing cold air helped to wake me up. I always forget how wonderful the rain smells and sounds, and it's always especially poetic in the fall.

We didn't speak much, for once. We just walked down the street to the park, walked around the park once, and then went back home. I felt much better afterwards, though.

I asked him whether we were going to resume our lesson, but he said we could do so some other day, and just to focus on my homework today.

I'll stop writing now, because it's almost eleven, and he said he would call then to make sure I'd stopped doing homework and was ready to sleep.