Fears

***

The best thing was that the girl gradually got used to living with a person. She could be around Sophia in peace, hiding in public behind the image of a simple, intimidated girl (and intimidated — it was true). Nightmare often watched from behind the stove as Sophia talked to strangers, sometimes calling her over to help with something at the table, or sending her to rest when she noticed she was tired. The girl nodded silently and helped, but always looked worriedly at the others, sometimes stumbling awkwardly or bumping into the furniture. This annoyed her, but she suppressed her irritation and continued to do what she could. Most of the time, Nightmare still preferred to lie on the stove or hide under a blanket in another room, where she felt relatively safe. Sometimes she would go for a walk. She felt with her whole body that people looked at her sideways, unkindly, so she wrapped herself more and more in the clothes Sophia had given her. Once her grandmother found her a grey hoodie and black trousers, which she combined with simple shoes. Nightmare even made herself massive glasses to hide her face. But even so… it was difficult. When she returned home, she crept silently like a cat under the blanket on the stove, trying to find a comfortable place. - How are you, dear? — Sophia asked quietly, lifting her head to look at the girl upstairs. - Tired, — Nightmare whispered, covering herself more tightly. “It’s so hard when people look at you… Hundreds of interested, suspicious looks… As if they are trying to find out what is wrong with me. Trying to understand who I am. She fell silent, turning her head slightly to look at her grandmother. - And only you and I know the truth, — she added quietly, with a slight purr in her voice, as if trying to calm herself with those words. Sophia came closer, quietly adjusting the blanket around the girl and running a hand over her shoulder as if to encourage her. - Let them look. The main thing is that you are safe at home, - she said warmly.