CH: 15

The couch was so uncomfortable, but I didn't have any other option. I woke up in the morning at around 9:00 am and I went to the washroom. I wasn't able to walk properly as my whole body was stiff and my neck it was paining like hell. I splashed the cold water on my face to get awake properly and then brushed my teeth and went for a bath. "It is so relaxing," I spoke to myself and exhaled in relief. After I finished bathing I went to my room and saw that Jacob was still sleeping soundly "Maybe he slept in a relief after a long time." I then went to the kitchen to cook something to eat I was so much hungry so I looked for something instant.

I took the bread; applied mayonnaise put some salad in it and my sandwich was ready to eat, I made some for Jacob too as he has to take medicine. I again went into my room to look for Jacob and I saw he wasn't there so I just knocked on the bathroom gate and asked "Jacob, are you in there?" He replied," yes, I'm in here."

I said" ok! The breakfast is ready quickly taking a bath." I was about to leave when Jacob again spoke to me, "Mason are you still there?" "Yes, I'm still here. Do you need anything?" he spoke in a low audible voice "Can you help me to clean myself." I was shocked, "does he really asked me to help him to a bath. Are you serious?" I spoke to myself and he again said "I am not able to wash myself because of my injury." I calmed myself down and said, "OH I will help you."

I opened the door and said, "ok my eyes are closed tell me where you are?" "Mason I'm wearing my shorts." He said and giggled a bit when I almost fell walking like a blind. I opened my eyes and rubbed the back of my neck in embarrassment. I saw Jacob sitting on a stool which I always kept in the bathroom. I also don't know why, but I feel good sitting in the bathroom whenever I feel sad or lonely. I went near Jacob, he was shirtless and was wearing shorts. I just saw his back at that time because his back was facing the door. I stood near him and asked him to pass me the soap. I then looked at his leg and then brought a polyethylene to cover it. After I covered it. I poured some water on Jacob's and applied the body wash and rubbed it slowly to create a proper amount of foam when I was rubbing it, I saw bruises, contusions, scars, laceration marks all over his back. I could feel his injuries when I was rubbing my hand on them. I felt really sad because only seeing them make me feel the pain and he was the one who is living with these injuries who have felt the pain these injuries caused.

After I washed his back I went forward to clean his chest, when I went in front of him I saw the same amount of scars on his chest also it was really unbearable I washed his chest and legs and then I helped him to sit near the basin so that I could wash his hairs. He sat near the basin and laid his head on the marble-white basin I gently poured water on his hairs and then applied the shampoo carefully. After I finished giving him a bath I ran outside the washroom and said "If you want anything just call me."

When I was finally out of Jacobs's vision I started rubbing my cheeks because they were really hot. I went back to the kitchen and plated our breakfast and asked Jacob to join me. He came to eat after2-3 minutes because he was getting dressed. He sat in front of me and said "Thank you for helping me." "It was really difficult for me," I said in my mind. I smiled and nodded in a reply.

We then started eating the breakfast. It was a really great feeling for me, "I am eating with someone else on my dining table, maybe there were no jokes and chit chats but there was the warmth I wanted to feel from a very long time of eating together with a known and close person. I don't know how was he close to me because we just me 4 days ago and I've started feeling a quite friendly relationship with the person sitting just in front of me." I was quite happy after we finished our breakfast he said "thank you for the food."

I stayed quiet and said "You don't have to thank about everything, Jacob" Jacob saw me straight into my eyes and smiled while nodding and said, "I'll remember this." And we both smiled at each other.