"Laudanum. It can knock you out for a while if you're not used to it."

She obviously was. The crutch clicked against the wooden floor with every step I took, echoing throughout the large room.

"It's the last door on the right, it's the same bathroom you were in last night. I'll wait for you out here," she said, walking over to the near church pew.

I reemerged in minutes and she helped me back to the bedroom. I was unable to walk without putting some weight on my foot and by the time we'd reached the bedroom it was hurting again.

"Are you in pain?" she asked.

"Is it that obvious?"

"I can tell you're favoring it more than when you first got up."

"Yes, it's sore. I'd like to lie down again." I hovered in the doorway and looked around the main room. On the left side of the stage sat what looked like a small organ under a cover. "Is that an organ?" I asked, pointing to it.

"Yes."

"Hey, maybe tomorrow I'll play you something." I immediately regretted the offer and thought about how I would explain knowing only Bulgarian hymns.

She looked surprised. "Interesting. I'd like to hear you play. Unfortunately, it hasn't worked in decades."

"Just as well, I don't know anything contemporary anyway," I said making the turn into the guest room. I sat down on the bed and eased my legs up, sighing heavily. She stopped in the doorway.

"I hope you'll forgive me, but I must leave. I have some business to attend to. I'll have Antonio bring down some fruit and a few selections from the library. Get some rest, I'll see you in the morning. Call for Antonio if you desire anything."

"Thank you. Good night," I trailed off as she left. I hadn't trusted anyone in a long time but I felt the strange and unfamiliar stirrings of trust when near her. Despite this, I couldn't ignore the question of why she would go out of her way to help a total stranger that had just been shot by the police. It wasn't normal. 'I would like to meet the person I reminded her of,' I thought, looking at the white plaster ceiling.

It's pathetic to think that suspicion would be the first reaction I should have to any kindness shown me. I don't think Vasili would have had the same reaction in his day. If altruism still exists in the world, I've never seen it in this town.

Pathetic or not, I couldn't help but feel like a pig being fattened for a banquet, every day getting a little larger, a little more comfortable and letting its guard down a little farther. I resolved to keep my guard up regardless of comfort or size. But she was beautiful; a pig could certainly find a worse fate.