"Hey. Are you alive?"
Maria was poking Sean's shoulder.
Sean was still dizzy. "What?"
"Come on, it's almost noon. I have to go." Maria was fondling with one of her earrings. She sat down on the armrest of the couch. "How are you? Let me check your eyebrow!"
Sean wasn't used to have someone taking care of him. He felt a little helpless. Joey at the hospital was the last person who checked his wounds after Sean was in coma. He hoped that Joey is alright and didn't get in any trouble after Sean escaped from the hospital.
"Ok, seems fine to me." Maria put the band aid back to Sean's eyebrow. She was drumming on her tights and looked around.
Sean noticed that she was wearing a black dress and high boots. She wore way more make-up that yesterday and looked totally different. Sean could imagine what kind of job she was doing. Now he remembered her. She was one of the prostitutes who had barely talked to him.
Maria looked anxious. It seems like she didn't feel comfortable in her own skin. "Ok Sean, listen. I'm going to work now and will be back in a few hours. But ...," She sighed. "Your clothes are still drying in the bathroom and since you're not fully recovered yet you can … maybe … stay here -at least for today." She made a weird face like she couldn't believe what she just said.
Sean jumped off the couch. "Are you serious? Wow. I don't know what to say. That's awesome. Thank you!" He tried to squeeze her hand to say thank you but she resisted.
"Promise me to be here when I'm back. And please don't rob me. I just try to be a good person, you know?" she looked at him pretty careful and folded her hands like a prayer. "My bedroom is off-limit, understand? You can watch TV or read a book. There's food in the fridge. And take care of your clothes in the bathroom. But please, please don't leave the apartment or bring someone here. It's important that no one knows that you're here. Be quiet as possible. Promise!" she looked at him pretty serious and concerned.
Sean nodded.
She sighed. "Let's talk later!" Maria took a small purse from the kitchen table and went to the door.
"I will be here, I promise!" Sean couldn't sill believe that he was so lucky today. "Adiós, Maria and thanks again!"
"Adiós, Sean!" she responded with a concerned look before leaving the apartment.
Sean leaned back into the couch. No cops, no thieves, no gang members were behind him. All the pressure from the last months disappeared for this short moment in time. After turning on the TV he snuggled into the pillows. He did not really capture what he was watching since he snoozed from being so tired and exhausted.
Two hours later his body was mostly recovered. He stood up to check the bathroom and his stuff. Everything was put tidily on stacks. Some of his clothes were still drying on the heater. His backpack was soaking in soap inside the bath tub. Sean started rubbing out some stains and tried to dry it after he was done.
Sean also found his sketchbook on the window ledge. He took it to draw a little and ended up doing a sketch of Maria sitting on the kitchen chair. Brody and Karen were right. It's all about the people you meet on the roads. He was lucky to also find friendly people here.
When he checked out the kitchen he decided to make a dinner for Maria to say thank you. Luckily there was almost every ingredient he needed to make Dad's spaghetti. Sean could still remember the receipt. He turned on the radio – a lonely guitar player was singing sad songs – and started cooking.
Maria came home pretty late. Before she said anything she raised her hand to stop Sean from talking and disappeared in the bathroom immediately.
Sean was setting the table and waited for her.
When she left the bathroom she looked way more casual with an oversized grey sweater, more like yesterday evening. "Did you make dinner?" she asked. Sean nodded. "Wow, that's so nice of you." She said smiling.
"I just wanted to say thank you for helping me and letting me stay. That's just … I don't know what to say and hope you like it."
"I never met someone who cooked for me. I'm sure it tastes good. What is it?"
"Pasta - special receipt from my Dad!" Sean already put the noodles on the plates.
They ate their food in silence. Just the radio was playing in the background.