The next day, I would meet Malcolm again in the evening. Since I was on vacation, I sat in my room and did nothing. Until something came to me. I called a number.

"Hello, what can I do for you?" Asked the psychiatrist.

"Hi there. I just have one question."

"And what about?" She asked politely.

"When can you tell that someone has been abused?" It was quiet for a while.

"Do you know someone?"

"My boyfriend. I don't know for sure, though."

"Oh, okay. How does he act?"

"Well, he always wants to be perfect for me. When you get intimate, he gets aggressive. Like if he had a panic attack, but it went away after a few seconds." I told her about Malcolm's problem and she pondered longer until she said:

"I don't know that. You should try to talk to your partner about it again." I nodded and hung up after I had said thank you. What should I do? Mal would never tell me the truth. I called Mark.

"Rosie Drag Queen. How can I help you?"

"Hello Mark. This is Angus."

"Oh hello Angus. How is it going between you and Mal?" I told him everything and he went quiet for a while. I started whimpering to tell the story.

"And I ... don't ... w ... what's going on." I finished. I had hiccups from crying.

"Sh. Calm down, sugar. Sh. It's good." He hummed through the receiver. "Shall I talk to him?"

"I don't know." I sniffed and wiped my eyes. "I'm sure he won't tell me."

"And how about you ask him again today and if he doesn't say anything, I'll try it?"

"I'm ... I'm afraid ... afraid that ..."

"Calm down honey. I don't understand you when you stutter. Take a deep breath." I did.

"I'm afraid that if I ask too many questions, he'll deport me."

"Oh darling. He would never do that. He does love you."

"But what if-"

"No Angus. You mustn't think about that. Besides, he's madly in love with you." I nodded sadly.

"Thanks Mark."

"No problem, sugar. And if you know, or if he didn't answer, give me a call, right?"

"Clear."

"Bye."

"Bye." I lay back on the bed and wiped tears from my eyes, whimpering. I fell asleep crying.