Page 15 of Hidden Echoes

“Alright, I’m coming in!” I warn, though I half-expect her to scream at me for invading her privacy. When no such scream comes, I take it as permission and push the door open.

The bathroom is humid, the mirror fogged up, and there, standing in the middle of the tiled floor, is Mia.. Still covered in blood and the towel. And staring at the shower like it’s some alien contraption sent to earth to confuse her.

“What… are you doing?” I ask, blinking at her.

She glances at me, tilting her head like I’m the one acting weird. “Waiting.”

“For what?” I gesture at the still-dry shower. “For the water to apologize to you before you get in?”

“No,” she replies simply, then shrugs. “I don’t know how it works.”

I stare at her, waiting for her to crack a smile or laugh or show some sign that she’s messing with me. But no, Mia is dead serious.

“You… don’t know how to shower?” I ask, my voice flat with disbelief.

She frowns slightly, crossing her arms. “I’ve never had to do it myself before. There was always someone to do it for me while I was unconscious.”

Oh. Right.

Fuck.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, exhaling slowly. “Okay. Fine. I’ll… I’ll teach you.”

Her eyes light up “Really? You’ll help me?”

“Yeah, but here’s the deal,” I say, holding up a finger. “I’m not looking at you. At all. I’ll turn my back, you’ll listen to what I say, and we’ll get through this without it being weird. Got it?”

She nods enthusiastically, like this is the best idea she’s ever heard.

I sigh, muttering to myself about how this is my life now, and turn my back to her. “Alright, first thing’s first. Take off the towel.”

There’s a rustling sound behind me, and my entire body tenses. Don’t think about it, Zane. Don’t even picture it.

“It’s off,” she announces cheerfully.

“Great. Now, step into the shower.”

A pause. “How?”

I turn my head slightly, just enough to glance at the shower controls. “Okay, see that lever thing? Pull it up.”

More silence.

“Mia, it’s right in front of you,” I say, trying not to sound exasperated.

“Ohhh,” she says, and there’s the sound of the lever creaking as she figures it out. Water bursts from the showerhead, and she squeals in surprise. “It’s hot!”

“Yes, that’s kind of the point,” I say, rolling my eyes even though she can’t see me. “You can adjust the temperature. See the little knob? Turn it left for colder, right for warmer.”

There’s a brief fumbling sound, followed by another delighted squeal. “Oh, it’s warm now! This is amazing!”

I can’t help but smile a little at her excitement. It’s like she’s discovering the world for the first time, and honestly, it’s kind of adorable.

“Alright,” I say, focusing again. “Next, you need soap.”

Another pause. “Where’s the soap?”

I gesture toward the shower rack without looking. “It’s in the dispenser. Just press the button, and it’ll come out.”

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