I went into the bathroom and was so upset that I turned on the geyser too fast, resulting in a dreaded explosion and Signora Martinelli hammering on the door.

“Now you burn down my house!” she shouted. “I want you out of here.”

I let the bath fill and lowered myself, feeling the life coming back to my frozen limbs. But I was still shivering. What would I do? One thing was absolutely clear after that encounter, and that was I couldn’t go home. When she was glaring at me, accusing me, all I could see was my mother, saying exactly the same things. Bringing shame to her, who wouldn’t for a moment think of what I might be going through. By the time I got out of the bath, I was calmer. I’d find another room. There were rooms aplenty in the city. The accademia would have a list. Then I thought, Do I want to go through another landlady, who might feel exactly the same as the signora? Why not find myself a flat for rent? Leo was putting money into an account for me. That should be enough to pay for a small place of my own. The idea seemed appealing. No more having to tiptoe in and out, sit at dinner and be polite when I didn’t feel like eating, and having a cat find its way into my room at odd hours.

Then I took this decision one step further. Leo could find a place for me. He had offered to help. He wanted to help. He knew the city better than I did and might well know of a suitable flat. I wrote him a note and asked him to meet me at the accademia at our usual place. I’d post it in the morning—that is, if I could leave the building. I peered out of my window to see nothing but water below. No hint of where the canal ended and the walkway beside it began. I realized this would make venturing out precarious. How easy it would be to step off terra firma into a canal.

But by the morning, the water had receded with the tide. The streets were covered with mud and seaweed, making them slippery, but at least I could reach the postbox and then my classes. Signora Martinelli had put out a roll and a slice of cheese for me but was nowhere to be seen, so I left without having to face her, for which I was glad. I realized that Leo wouldn’t get my note until the next day, so I made use of my free time by going to a clothing shop and buying a big jacket and a knitted skirt that would stretch with me. When I had my own space, I’d attempt to make some clothes as fabric was cheap in the market.