Page 72

Maddie nodded, listening to Saff slowly move farther and farther away. Once she could barely hear her anymore, she reached one hand up, feeling for the small ledge where the wall met the shower tile. Her fingers touched the cold, smooth edge, and she leaned the handle of her cane against it.
Then she slowly peeled off each piece of dirty clothing.
When she was finally done, she felt the ledge of the shower with her foot and carefully stepped in.
If the water really was that cold, she wanted to test it first before spraying it across her body. She reached up, feeling until her hand came to the familiar hose-like cord, then ran up to thenozzle, unhooking it. Then she held her other hand out in front and squeezed the trigger.
It sputtered for a split second. Then icy water sprayed out onto her hand.
She flinched, jerking away.
Saff had understated it. This water was way worse than the river.
She sucked in a breath and counted to three, then she sprayed it across her chest, inhaling sharply as the water ran down the front of her body. She repeated that until the front and back of her body were fully soaked, then she fumbled for the soap, hands already trembling.
When she found it, she quickly rushed through washing herself, then repeated the whole process with her hair.
And by the time she’d finally finished washing her hair the best she could, her whole body was shaking. It reminded her of Saff after the river.
She felt along the wall for the hook and then hung the shower head back up, then she pulled the curtain open and immediately reached for the towel. She pulled it up and wrapped it tightly around her body, giving it a few moments to trap in what little heat her body had left.
Then it hit her.
Clothes.
She hadn’t brought a change of clothes over to the shower. Actually, she wasn’t really sure what clean clothes she had left to change into, anyway. But still, the thought of having to put her dirty clothes back on sounded like torture.
She carefully stepped out onto the cold floor, then reached out for where she’d left her cane. Sounds floated out from the other room, and she easily navigated her way back to them.
The one free hand stayed tightly wrapped around her torso, keeping the towel in place as she passed through, feeling thetable and then the cot. Saff didn’t say anything as she moved through the area, and part of her was grateful. She didn’t want Saff’s attention on her yet, while she still felt so out of her element.
She sat down on the cot and felt for her backpack. When she found it, she stuffed her hand deep down into the main pocket, searching for any piece of cloth she could wear. She pulled and adjusted the items in the pack until she felt one thing. A pair of hiking pants, covered in buckles and thick pockets.
It wouldn’t be comfortable, but it would have to do. Then, she supposed, she’d have to wear the same shirt she had on before.
Saff cleared her throat from somewhere nearby in the kitchen. “Need some clothes?”
“No, that’s—” Maddie shook her head, then stopped. She didn’t want to feel like she was putting Saff out in any way, but she also really didn’t want to wear dirty clothes again. “I don’t want to take something you need.”
“Its fine. I cleaned some of my stuff in the creek this morning, and they should be dry now. We can clean your stuff tomorrow if you want,” Saff answered. Then she heard her walk away somewhere.
Maddie sat quietly on the edge of the cot, arms wrapped around her body, trying to control the small shivers that quaked through her.
Then, a few moments later, Saff’s footsteps returned.
“Here,” she said. Maddie held one hand out in front of her, keeping the other firmly placed on the towel around her chest. Saff placed the clothes on her hand and forearm.
“Thanks,” Maddie said with a small smile.
“I’m gonna go take a shower.”
Maddie dropped the clothes into her lap, then waited until Saff’s footsteps left the room once again.
She laid each item onto the bed beside her, unfolding them and running her hand over the fabric. The pants were thick, with an elastic band at the waist. The shirt felt thinner, or maybe just more loose, like it had been worn many times before.
Her fingers ran over the front of it, skimming over a large decal.
A moment later, the faint sound of spraying water echoed through.