19

Before lunchtime, Katia went to the bathroom to splash some water in her eyes.

She was tired and could not understand why the Health Department always refused to pay for the treatment of her little boy's illness.

Dario, the photographer and father of Adrien's best friend, had advised her to reapply for the treatment but she refused. She would not put up with another rejection.

And then the man had told her to stop by her father's pharmacy to pick up Adrien's medications. She splashed water on her face and stood looking at herself in the mirror with her hands resting on the marble wash counter.

She closed them, while her breathing was ragged.

She heard the bathroom door open but still, she uncovered her eyes until she felt hands touching her belly from behind. As she looked in the mirror, her eyes showed terror as she saw that it was Albert Johson.

"Let me go," she demanded, as she tried to free herself from the grip that had grabbed one of her breasts and squeezed it. She closed her e