SHE GOES SWIMMING. The words over the entrance say ‘Wellness Oasis’, and in front of it stands a man in the hotel uniform who asks for her room number. She takes the key out of her bathrobe pocket and gives him the number.
‘Welcome,’ says the man, and he begins to tell her about the various saunas, steam baths and massages from which she can choose.
‘I just want to swim,’ she says.
‘You’re welcome,’ says the man, showing her to the pool. The water splashes softly and lies calm in the dim light.
‘Thank you,’ she says, and the man withdraws.
She takes off her bathrobe and carefully puts it down on one of the loungers. Then she stands under the shower for a few minutes. She hears a loud splash; someone has jumped into the water. She comes out of the shower, goes towards the pool over the cool, smooth tiles. A man is just getting out of the water, and stops when he sees her. He seems to be intrigued, maybe because she is naked. She hasn’t brought a bathing suit with her, she hadn’t thought that she might be able to swim at the hotel.
‘Hi there,’ says the man in English.
She would like to explain about the bathing suit to him, but it’s a long time since she spoke any English, and the words elude her.
‘Hi,’ is all she says.
‘See you later,’ says the man, walking away, and she lets herself slip into the water.
She dives down and wraps herself in its cold, heavy blueness like a blanket, until life forces her back up to the surface.