After the dusty boredom of the archive I decided to drop in on Katrin on the way home. No biggie if she wasn’t there, I just thought it would be nice to say hi.
I got some hassle off the West Berlin cop standing at the border crossing. It wasn’t anything major, nothing I’ve not dealt with a million times before, but since when did they hassle us going into West Berlin? Anyway, it was all good in the end, because I bumped into Katrin in her tenement entryway just as I was coming back down the stairs. I’d already been up to her flat but there had been no answer, because here she was, walking in off the street.
“Karo, oh!”
“I was just passing …”
“Yeah, sure. Nice surprise.”
“It’s fine if you’re busy, y’know if you’ve got stuff to do …”
Katrin took hold of my hand, the gesture timid—it was well cute, and we went up the stairs to her flat. We went in and I curled up on her sofa, hoping she’d come and snuggle up with me, but she called through the door as she went into the kitchen.
“I’m making a pot of tea—want some?”
I followed her into the kitchen where she was standing by the kettle, staring into space.
I watched her for a minute before asking if she was OK.
Katrin started, as if she hadn’t realised I was standing next to her, then turned to me, putting her hands on my hips and drawing me close. I lifted my head so she could kiss me but she was staring into space again, somewhere over my shoulder.
“What’s up, Katrin?”
No answer.
“Is it about yesterday, about what we did? Because if-”
Katrin gave me a smile, it was a really nice smile, except it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Just got a lot on my mind, that’s all. Everything’s fine.”
I wasn’t sure what to do. I thought Katrin was happy about what had happened between us, I mean, it was lovely. We had fun, it felt good. Maybe it was because I ran off so early? Maybe I should have stayed longer?
“Because if this is about yesterday-”
Katrin stroked my head, the bit on the side where the hair is cut really short. “I like the spikiness,” she said. “It tickles my hand.”
I switched the kettle off and took her hands in mine, pulling her gently into the living room, towards the sofa. Our eyes locked and her smile came back, a real one this time. That amazing Katrin smile.