The Bathtub Full of Ice
When he opened his eyes in the bathtub, he had only one thought.
The water was too cold.
He inhaled sharply.
His neck would not move properly.
His mouth was dry.
His tongue felt as if it were stuck to his gums.
When he opened his eyes, he saw a white ceiling.
It was a ceiling he had never seen before.
A hotel room.
Only then did his memories begin to return, little by little.
Business trip.
Airport.
Rental car.
Convention center.
Dinner meeting.
Hotel bar.
And the woman.
He slowly raised his head.
His body was submerged in water.
No, it was not water.
It was ice.
The bathtub was full of ice.
Cold water had risen between the chunks of ice.
His shirt was soaked and clinging to his body.
He was still wearing his pants.
His shoes were gone.
“What the…”
His voice would not come out properly.
He grabbed both sides of the bathtub and tried to lift himself up.
At that moment, pain tore through his side as if it were being ripped open.
He could not breathe.
He sank back down into the bathtub.
His right side.
Below the ribs.
A thick bandage was wrapped around it.
At first, he thought he had been injured.
Had he fallen?
Had he been hit by a car?
Had he gotten drunk and slammed into something?
But the bandage was too neat.
It had no