Not Another Broken Doll

Chapter 3

By the end of her day at university, Ruth felt exhausted. Explaining her ideas to a team of undergrads had consumed a lot of her patience. But it was worth it. She got to her bicycle as it started pouring down. She cursed in her head for having forgotten her waterproofs at home. But it was too late now so she started riding and trying to focus on getting home as soon as she could.

The rain was splashing all over her, so she decided to take a shortcut through Planten und Blomen park to avoid the rush hour in the open streets, as it would only mean that she would have to avoid passers-by with umbrellas. Oh boy, she did not like it when it rained like that. She could not finish that thought when her bicycle slipped in the mud and leaves, and she fell badly on her right side. By then she was already soaked through so she could not even really feel if she had hurt herself.

“Are you alright?” a familiar voice called as she heard someone’s steps rush in the splashing mud.

“Yes, I’m fine. Thanks.” She lifted her bike and she met, as if for the first time, a pair of blue eyes looking concerned. “Chris?”

“Ah, Frau Spain! You’re soaked, here take this, don’t catch a cold” he offered his jacket, not giving Ruth much of a choice not to take it.

“Thanks, but don’t worry, I’m only a few minutes away from home, anyway” she tried to avoid him. She took a step and she flinched. It was her side again, but this time she could not tell if it was because of the fall or because of her scars. It had to be the fall, she thought.

“Well, you don’t look OK. Let me go with you, I can push your bike if you let me” Chris offered in a gentlemanly way that actually annoyed Ruth more that it should have. She took the jacket of her shoulders and returned it.

“It’s fine. Thank you.” She remarked. “I can handle it from here.” The coldness in her words took Chris aback, ashamed and confused thinking he had offended her. He was quick to apologise too. “No, don’t. Just don’t worry, OK? I am in no need of rescue.”

“I figured that about you months ago, but you’re obviously hurt and absolutely soaked. Why is it that unreasonable to accept someone’s help?” he blurted out in frustration. Ruth took a step back and Chris could see that hint of darkness flash at the back of her eyes. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“Thank you again” She said hurriedly and started walking away. She stopped and turned around “You should put your jacket back on. It’s quite enough with one of us turning into one with the rain, don’t you think?” Chris looked at her and couldn’t help to smile to himself.

“Hey!” he called “It’s Christoff by the way”

“What?”

“My name” he said smiling, feeling the rain get through his shirt and make his skin cold.

“Ruth” she said, as she rode back on her bicycle and disappeared on through the gates of the park towards the streets of Hamburg.