- Lila... wake up... - Paula's voice pierced vaguely to my consciousness - Get up, the kitchen is already open, and you are still stuck in the bed. Come out - she pulled the covers off me and with a smile she tilted her head - Do you feel warm?

- You're terrible - I stammered yawning loudly. I stretched myself trying to pull my hair back so that it could be tied into a ponytail. It turned out miserably because during sleep they got tangled up and frizzed- I don't know how you do it - I sighed resignedly hanging my legs from the bed - Every day you wake up at the same time. Do you have an alarm clock in your head or something?

- I don't have any - she waved her hand - My mother always got up at 6:30 to work, and at 7:00 in the morning she would wake me up for breakfast to drive to kindergarten. Later the same to school. It's a matter of habits. I learned it.

- And now you're trying to teach me that? - I grimaced - Your effort will ended as a fail.

- So far, getting you out of the bed goes pretty well - she glanced at the quilt she was still holding in her hands, then threw it on my face. I had to spit out some lints, which she applied to me in this way.

Laughing as every morning, we marched to the bathroom to take a shower and get dressed for work. Each of the people working in the kitchen had the same outfit. I could say it was rather a uniform - white pants and t-shirt, and white buttoned vest. We had to wear also funny white hats. I don't know why, but my hair always managed to escape from under this cover.

To be honest, I didn't quite understand why we were dressed in white - after all, such clothes could be soiled easier. Paulina claimed that they want to force us to be "clean and aesthetic." Maybe she was right, because once I poured tomato sauce on myself, I wanted to hide in the mouse hole. Not only was I devoting half a night to wash my uniform, but I had to parade with this huge stain while serving meals. I felt nasty. Like the cinderella before transformation.

It was really bitter lesson for me, but it had its effect. I have not poured anything else on myself. Some dirt could be endured. Sometimes I thought that worrying about something like that was just not right on me. I had easy time in the kitchen. When I looked at dirty and dusty companions who working in the fields of crops or rebuilding infrastructure I felt as if I was cheating on them. They put all their strength to rebuild our country. And I? Not only did I do what I liked, I also had a great time. I couldn't say the same about them.

Today, the kitchen was typical mess. Someone was cutting, someone seasoning, someone was frying, someone was baking, and someone else was trying and judging the dishes. Paulina and I were responsible about daily portion of oatmeal. As always with apples. Sometimes I missed kitchen machines that did processes as peeling and stoning fruit. So today I was forced to sit, peel, cut nests out and cut apples, which I placed in ice-cold water with slices of lemon. Paula, on the other hand, was mixing rolled oats with milk in two big cauldrons.

- My hands are about to fall off - she panted loudly, wiping her wet forehead with a paper towel. I just finished struggling with the last portion of fruit so I reached for the second ladle, but she didn't let me take it.

- Hey, what are you doing? - I said surprised - You couldn't use my help? I can replace you for a few minutes. I've already done up with apples.

- Relax, I'll be fine. I just had to complain a little. I always complain to myself and it make me feel better immediately - she replied amused and dipped the other ladle in the next pot. She could mix with both hands at the same time spilling nothing - You'd better go and throw away this pile of peels. I am weaker one but it is pice of cake for you.

- The fact is, trips with my father gave me a bit of strength - I smiled sadly at the memories of those adventures. It was probably the best fun for me in my childhood: eating fish caught in the company of my beloved dad - It is a pity that Jacek got sick. We lack male hands here.

- Oh yes - Paula blushed to the tips of her ears - You don't even know how I miss his sight...

- You are impossible - I snorted and rolled my eyes. From several months Paulina had been secretly in love with Jacek, our workmate. Poor guy had no idea about it, because she was scared to talk to him. Sometimes they would exchange a few words in the kitchen but their conversations ended there. I suggested her I may try to talk to him but she strictly rejected this idea. I had to swore her that I wouldn't let any word out of my mouth. Well, the promise given to a friend is a sacred thing. However, her shyness made me nervous. Even I was braver. And Jacek was a really nice boy. It's a pity that Paulina wouldn't try to meet him outside the kitchen: - Will you dare to talk to him? - I asked her bluntly.

- I'm working on it - she muttered softly under her breath without taking her eyes off the bubbling oatmeal - I just need a little more time than others. 

- What a stubborn... - I turned my back on her, carrying the sack toward the door to the yard. Our dustbin was located there - Please don't wait too long, because one of the girls will take him from under your nose - I ended being already at the exit.

- I know, I know... - She shook her head, sighing. Laughing, I winked and then went outside.

Today was unusually sunny. It's been a long time since such high temperatures were recorded. I put the sack at my feet, leaned against the wall and closed my eyes. I let the rays spread over my face. The last time I felt this way was when I left the auditorium after graduation. Today it seemed so distant like it was unrealible.

I have changed since then. I grew up in the full sense of this meaning. I worked and helped others. With Paulina I still felt like a teenager, but deep down I was completely changed. I had no specific plans for the future, but I knew that I would do everything to be happy again. That's what my parents would like. Because I dreamed of so many things: I wanted to make a family. Have a home. Garden. And above all, I wanted to love and be loved...

Unexpectedly, I felt the grip of someone's hand on my lips. It was damp and rough. Confused, I opened my eyes and my tongue got stuck in my throat. There was a man in front of me. He was taller than me by a head. The first thing my brain and sense of smell registered was the fact that this man reeked incredibly. I tried to scream, heedless of his hand, but in a moment the gag reflex hit me. I fought him. Instinctively, I tried to breathe through my mouth, but the intruder's hand prevented this. So I sniffed the air again and the stench reached my nostrils with double strength. Fear gripped my throat again. My heart was pounding. I gave out a quiet squeak.

- Shhh... - the stranger whispered slowly still holding a hand on my lips - Don't shout. I won't hurt you. I just wanted to ask you to give me what you got in the sack. Just promise me that you will not yell and I let you go - before the meaning of his words came to me, I realized that the tone he was speaking was strangely calm. Young boys had similar voices, although the person who stood in front of me didn't look like my peer. I didn't understand what it was, but it did inspire my trust. After all, if he wanted to hurt me, he could do it already.

I shook my head slightly to indicate that I wasn't going to scream. The man took his hand away and studied me uncertainly. I took a quick breath and tilted my head. His smell and breath made my eyes sting.

- Ah, I understand - he said and took a step back - I'm sorry I scared you - Could I take this sack?

- Who are you and why do you need it? - I said courageously, controlling the sparkles of fear still burning in me - After all, these are only rotten apples and peels.

The man looked at me and took the hood off his head. His sweatshirt was just as dirty as the rest of the clothes. It was not jagged, but it was noticeable that its glory days were long past.

- Who am I? - he asked amused - I think it can be seen at first glance. Is the word "homeless" telling you something?

He had dusty brown hair that was slightly wavy due to its length. He looked a bit like a shaggy dog, because every lock of hair was arranged at a different angle. His face was soiled, like soot. However my reaserch stopped in the moment, when my eyes reached his. They were amazing. Green as grass and full of light. I saw this kind of eyes for the first time in my life.

- How can you not have a home? They said in the news that the authorities took care of everyone... Ah, I know - I opened my eyes more widely - you had to somehow get away from them. It was impossible to not offer you a shelter. Why did you reject them? It's ridiculous - I paused eloquently, but he didn't fill the gap - Don't worry, we may fix it. If you want, take this sack, but you better do when you come inside with me. We will tell the guards that you are lost and they will definitely give you a bed, work and even...

- Are you mocking me? - he interrupted, and an unpleasant note appeared in his voice - They are not as loved as you think. They didn't care about us before and they don't care now. Do you think anyone is interested in people like us? We are worthless to them. We have no education or good origin. They told us to fuck off. They don't need us for anything.

- Us? Does this mean there are more of you?

- Of course? - he snorted - Do you really think that the good Mr. President and the rest of his errand boys gave everyone a roof over their heads? - He did pause this time - What's your name? - He said as if without thinking, but second later added - Oh no, I change my mind. Don't say anything. It will be better for you a nameless being if you continue to live in your blissful ignorance and continue to be called a naive. Live your life through authorities, which are supposedly good for everyone. Yes ... - he smiled in pity - For everyone, but only for those choosen one.

- You're lying! - I raised my voice - How dare you say that. They looked after us. They gave us a chance for a new life, they gave us a job, food and place to sleep, and you slander them so brazenly. I don't believe any of your word!

- Do as you want. Feed on your childish naivety, but I will give you good advice. If anything ever breaks your trust, turn around and run as soon as possible. If you don't believe me, ask people in your hall. Look for those who were homeless and ask where they came from. I'm sure, that they won't want to confess. Because certainly nobody invited them here. Nobody invited me either. Anyway, fortunately. I could not bear life at the mercy of these murderers...

- Murderers?! - I hissed furiously suppressing my desire to hit him in the face - You know what, get out of here! I'm counting to ten and you're supposed not to be here. I won't tell anyone about you, because it's not worth any attention, since you haven't even deigned to introduce yourself. Hovewer you should remember one thing: I'm not a fool! You don't know me. You don't know anything of me. I will surprise you and give you a lesson of good manners - I reached out my shaking hand in the air and slowly moved it up and down as if I were greeting him, which I didn't do at all, and then clenched my fist when the hand returned to its place - my name is Lilianna. I advise you to run away before I start screaming. You insult people who gave me a second home. You only insult because you have certainly rejected their help yourself. I don't want to see you here anymore...

He was still standing in the same place with an unreadable expression on his face. It irritated me even more:

- Why are you still standing here? Grab this and disappear - I tossed him a sack under his feet. He looked at me in surprise, then lifted sack and shook his head in disbelief:

- How did you pick this up? I am impressed with your...

- I don't care you are impressed! Get out of here right now!

The boy just shrugged and smiled with corner of his mouth. He hopped onto the roof above the thrash can, as nimbly as if he had been doing it since childhood. Maybe he did, but I wasn't sorry for him now. It was just a deceitful Bugger like many in this world. He thought he just meet a stupid little girl. But he was wrong.

However, when he standing on the roof, he turned and said:

- Thanks for that sack, Lila. Maybe you think of me as a thug and a liar, but I really wish you well. You are naive, but it's not your fault. They taught you all of this and that was probably their assumption. But you should be carefull. I don't advise you to trust them too much. Unless you want to lose.

- Save your advice to someone who needs them. Someone like you won't tell me what I should do.

- Someone like me? - he thought for a moment and then laughed bitterly - I am no role model, but for some reason you don't scream, so I guess I'm not that bad.

- Oh... it's good that you reminded this - I grabbed the door handle violently and noticed that he finally was out of my sight. All I could hear was the regular strikes of his sneakers against the metal. I shook my head slightly. I was angry that I let him tell all these lies. I will unnecessarily think about this.

I turned and wiped sweat from my temple. It was getting hotter. I grabbed the door handle again and when I wanted to go inside, some shadow appeared on the concrete. I looked in the direction of the garbage bin and in my surprise I saw him again. My frustration has reached its zenith. I was already opening my mouth, but he spoke first:

- My name is Adam. Adam Grzmot, just like this thunder when rain storm are started - he quickly repeated my gesture in the air with his own hand - You don't care about me, but I want you to know who I am. It may be useful to you one day...

Before I could react, he silently walked away. I wanted to shout that I hope to never see him again, but something stopped me.

I couldn't really be sure, that this information would never be useful to me...