You Are the Same

Andrzej Nowicki was waiting just outside the door, leaning against the wall, wondering what the hell Paulina was up to? Are there any secret agreements between her and Dominika? What kind? And how, when did this happen?

The minutes passed annoyingly slowly. Andrzej, while waiting for any information from Dominik's bedroom, began to feel awakening frustration. What have these two been doing there for so long?

Finally, Paulina left Śliwiński's bedroom. Nowicki immediately pulled away from the wall. He did it so violently that he almost stumbled.

"Come to the kitchen," she instructed.

"But…"

"Dominik is taking a bath," she explained, "and we have to talk."

It's not like Andrzej had a bad feeling. But he was worried, he was very worried that Paulina had some terrible news for him. Dominik could feel safer with Paulina than with him and tell her the terrible truth ... Will the woman now convey this truth to him?

Nowicki obediently followed her. He was anxious, but knew he needed to remain calm. There will still be time for the murder of Marek Marczak. When Paulina started to heat the food, Andrzej was politely sitting in his chair and waiting.

"I told him I knew about his orientation," his friend began to say. "I figured it out myself, so it's not your fault. I pulled his tongue. Some things are easier to talk to a woman about, especially when they involve men. It seems there was no physical contact, and luckily. If they'd hurt him like that. "Paulina shook her head. Her voice was calm, but her eyes glowed with murderous intent. "If he had done the worst to him, we would not have managed to do without a specialist. However, I think that Dominik will open up to us. He's an honest and trusting boy who, for some reason, likes you enough to accept your company. "

"It's good that he trusted you," Andrzej sighed with relief, ignoring his friend's teasing. "He likes people, only afraid they will reject him when they learn the truth about him."

"What I haven't done. Neither you," Paulina smiled at Andrzej surprisingly warmly.

"What's the difference to me?" he was indignant.

"None, apparently."

The smile, however, began to fade from her lips. Her thoughts returned to the unpleasant situation that befell Dominik.

"To think that someone might betray his lover's trust like this ..." she shook her head again, again having the murderous intent in her eyes. "Unforgivable. You will stay with him, right? "

"Of course" confirmed Andrzej.

"Good, because I have to get back to my baby. If you need anything - call me. I'll come by tomorrow anyway with new provisions. Take care of him, okay? " Paulina hugged Andrzej. "And these hugs are for him. Give him my cell phone number. Let him call when he wants to. "

"Hey, what are you so caring about him?"

"He's your friend after all, isn't he? My friend's friend is my friend. Don't let him get out of bed at least until tomorrow, and make sure he takes the vitamins he has in his nightstand drawer, unopened. Be a good and caring nanny for him, okay? "

"You don't have to ask me for this."

"I know, but ... I can't even imagine what I would feel if something like this happened to me ..."

'Me too,' he sighed. Some things are simply unimaginable, and when they do exist, the shock prevents you from accepting reality.

"Take this bowl to him. He doesn't have to eat everything, although it would be good. And let him drink a lot. It looks like he might have become a little dehydrated…" Paulina was giving him final orders before leaving the house.

"Go now," he pushed her gently out of the kitchen. "Martynka is waiting!"

"Yes, I'm going, I'm going," she assured, but stopped at the threshold and looked at the top of the stairs. Andrzej saw compassion and sympathy in her eyes. He understood her feelings because he had similar feelings himself.

He closed the door behind her, took the tray prepared by Paulina and went upstairs with it. When he knocked, a soft "please come in" replied. He stepped uncertainly over the threshold.

He promised to stay with him, but he didn't know how to act. He couldn't pretend it was okay, but he didn't know how to talk about it all.

Dominik was back in bed. Andrzej noticed that he had changed sheets and a fresh T-shirt and his hair was damp. He was sitting back on the cushions and he looked really bad. It wasn't his tired, pale face covered with shadows, but his aquamarine eyes, which, without glare, escaped from light and human contact. Wounded and painfully sad, they resembled beautiful but dead dolls.

"I brought food. Thanks to it you will regain your strength."

Dominik nodded vaguely, so Andrzej set the tray in front of him. The actor took a spoon in his hand, but was not eager to get the broth. He stared at him blankly until Nowicki, who was closely watching him, thought that he would throw up in a moment.

"Hey, he's not that gross," he joked.

"I'm sorry I can not."

Andrzej's heart trembled. What a weak voice Śliwiński spoke! It seemed as if all he was dreaming about was a sleep. There was not even a grain of energy in him. It was as if just breathing and keeping his eyes open were draining his strength.

"Fine. You don't have to eat now" he took the bowl. "At least drink the juice."

He took a few sips. Nowicki had the impression that he did it only because he did not have the strength to argue.

But even those few sips were a success for Andrzej. It was always the beginning, and when his dormant digestive system starts working, it will demand more.

The situation was quite awkward and Andrzej had no idea how to act or what to say. Fortunately, he remembered his friend's recommendation.

"Paulina asked me to give you her number. You can call her whenever you want." He looked around for a piece of paper and a pen. There was a notebook on the bedside table. "Can I?" Dominik nodded. "By the way, what have you been talking about for so long? That was weird."

"She wanted to know if I had been ra**d."

Andrzej felt even more insecure and his heart leapt nervously. Hearing such brutal words from Dominik's subtle lips was not right. They were made for beauty and poetry, not to talk about violence in such a blunt, straightforward way as if it were nothing.

The voice was so unlike the warm, kind Dominik that Nowicki trembled. Was Śliwiński lying to Paulina? Does anyway ...

"Dominik ..."

"Sorry, I'm tired," he answered dryly and lay on his side, covering his head with the quilt. The topic was finished.

'What can I do?' Andrzej thought, standing in the same place and watching Dominik hide in his shell. How can I help him? Can I at all?

He thought he should search the Internet for advice on how to deal with similar cases. There are certainly pages devoted to this topic, because violence was a constant of human life. Andrzej never got her in this way, he was never a victim, although he had seen many of them once. What are such people afraid of? What do they think about themselves?

Nowicki could not wait and leave Dominik in his own world of fears. He had to trust his intuition.

"Dominik, I know that you are still awake, so listen to me. Whatever happened, it doesn't change the fact that I like you as much as I liked you before. I consider you a friend and nothing will change that. I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me, but I am now and I'm not going to leave you alone with your problems. Paulina doesn't either. So you can cry, scream, swear, you can do whatever you want, but don't you dare to close yourself. I am your friend and I don't want to lose you. Whatever happened, you are the same in my eyes. You are the same. You have to remember that, did you understand?

In response, the figure on the bed curled up into a fetal position, and stayed that way.

"Anyway, I'll be in the kitchen because I'm hungry."

That was all.