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I don’t know how to answer that. Instead, I ask where I am.
“We’re at Mr. Lykaios’s house. I don’t know if it belongs to him, but he brought us here four days ago.”
“Four days? And he . . .um. . . Mr. Lykaios stayed here, too?”
“Yes. In fact, for the last forty-eight hours, no one has been able to leave. It was officially decreed that the world is going through a pandemic, and the governor, in addition to setting a curfew for after five in the afternoon, asked people not to leave their homes, except those who work in essential services.”
“What? Curfew? We can’t leave the house? Where are my parents?” I feel restless again.
“Safe, in a clinic. Even before the lockdownwas enacted, there were rumors of an absurd increase in the number of cases. It seems that Mr. Lykaios saw what was coming. That’s why you’re here, too. It was on the advice of the staff who attended you. No one should be going to the hospital except for serious emergencies, as the risk of contamination is very high. Now, please try to calm down. Are you in pain?”
“No,” I say, looking at my hand again. “Did I hurt my face?”
“No, my love. I don’t know exactly what happened to you. What I heard is that your house was on fire. You got very lucky. You were only left with this little scar on your hand, which a good surgeon will be able to fix.”
“It’s not about vanity or anything. I need my face to make a living. My family depends on me.”
“Oh!” She looks startled. “I know who you are, of course, but I didn’t know that you worked to help your family. Anyway, stay calm. Nothing worse than that happened.”
I work up the courage to ask what I need to, but the fear of the answer makes me nauseous. “When I passed out during the fire, there was a woman with me. She is my agent and my best friend; her name is Bia Ramos. Do you know where she is?”
“I don’t know the details. Just that she’s still hospitalized.”
“Can you please help me change my clothes? I need to find a phone and find out where my friend is.”
“I don’t know if I should. Better talk to the doctor first.”
“Christos . . . is Mr. Lykaios here?”
“Yes, I believe he’s in his office on the first floor.”
“I need to talk to him, but maybe I need a shower first.”
“We’ll give you a bath, as best as we can, to protect your injuries. Believe me when I say that the feeling of water on them will be very painful.”
It is very hard, but with the help of the nurse, I take a shower with my legs hanging out of the tub.
She washes my hair for me because of the burn; at least for now, my hand is useless.
It’s the only physical pain I’m feeling. Actually, it’s more of a burning sensation. But nothing compares to what’s making my chest tighten.
Bia alone in the hospital? Why didn’t he bring her here too?
“Want help getting down?”
“Yes, please. Take me to Mr. Lykaios.”
My steps are uncertain because I feel weak. I’m also afraid of using my hand on the banister for support and hurting myself even more. The stairs are endless, and it takes us about five minutes to go down all the way.
When we finally arrive at the bottom, a very angry-faced Christos stares at me. “Zoe, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Because of my natural shyness and being used to running away when confronted, I back up a step, which causes me to lose my balance. To prevent the fall, I use my injured hand to grab the banister and cry out in distress. The pain is so intense that tears well up in my eyes.
Seconds later, arms lift me. Without a word, he walks with me into a room and closes the door.
“Put me down,” I beg, trying to save some dignity.
“No.”
