[center][color=#ead2b2][h3]Darlene Kate Revie[/h3][/color][/center][right][color=silver]Albuquerque, NM: Duncan's motor pool base
August 27, 2016[/color][/right]It was all Darlene could do to keep smiling and nodding when needed, not engaging in conversation. She did make an effort to take in the information he was giving out, perhaps she could go through it later when she was feeling better. Later. 

His invitation for her to shower was met with obvious relief, and she nodded quickly. [color=#ead2b2]"That would be most welcome,"[/color] she said, standing up straight again. [color=#ead2b2]"I have clothes, don't worry."[/color] She wasn't sure what to make of his offer to get a whole RV for her, so she didn't say anything about that, deciding to leave it up to him whether he really wanted to go through that trouble for her.

He meant that she could shower now, right? Sure seemed like it. Going back to collect her backpack, she left him as she headed into the bathroom. Closing the door behind her and making sure it was tightly shut and locked, she leaned against it wearily for a few seconds. Alone. Her smile dropped and Darlene had to blink back tears as she removed her clothes. [color=#ead2b2][i]Don't think about the past.[/i][/color]

Everything was piled into a neat pile in a corner, the pouch around her neck on top as she had removed it last. Then for the hot water. She ended up taking a much longer shower than she had meant to. The warm water was really too inviting. It gave her a chance to pull herself together again while she was still alone, and she let a few tears escape as the water ran down her face. Her shower ended abruptly when the hot water did actually run out, slightly to her embarrassment. She hadn't meant to [i]really[/i] use up all the hot water, but it was too late now. 

Drying herself with a towel she found that looked unused, she pulled on a fresh set of clothes. Long, plain blue jeans without any patterns or designs and grey socks was what she wore on her lower half. For her top, she chose the only slightly fancier shirt she had. Most of her clothes were entirely practical, but this, a fitting long-sleeved deep blue button down shirt that was made of a light and airy material, had some green embroidery along the bottom. 

It might have seemed surprising to some to see her wearing long clothes even in summer, but it wasn't unusual. Plus, wearing long sleeves concealed the scratches and bruises on her arms, and some part of her did want to look sort of pretty. The only downside was that the shirt was a little on the small side, therefore clinging to her curves a little more than she would have liked, but it couldn't be helped. 

She even did her hair carefully too, putting it up into [url=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/be/19/2e/be192e67058e8602879392bd3638b6f7--braided-hairstyles-updo-braided-updo.jpg]bun[/url], but making it fancier. She was finally ready then, but before leaving the bathroom she took out sheets of paper from the pouch around her neck, gazing at what was on them for a few minutes before putting them away with a determined smile. 

Time to face the world again.

Her eyes didn't really show any signs of crying unless you were very observant so as to notice the slightly red tinge. She had spent over half an hour in the bathroom before she finally stepped out of the bathroom and then out of the RV, looking around for Duncan.