Arriving at the boarding house I stopped on the sidewalk and looked at the immaculate front yard, the grass was cut and the flower beds were tended with a love that was obvious to all, a little sign sign in the window said 'vacancies' and I was sure I could hear jazz playing from an open upstairs  window, with the birdsong that ringing in my ears, it was a beautiful picturesque scene.<br/><br/>Slowly walking up the path to the front door, I was about to ring the bell when the door opened, an elderly lady looked me up and down, then said, "you a looking fer a room sonny?" now that's twice in a couple of hours that I had been called sonny, I didn't mind it though, it was kinda strange to hear as in the city, no-one talks to anyone let alone the elderly calling a complete stranger 'sonny.'<br/><br/>I smiled, and looked at the old woman as she wiped her hands on the apron, maybe she was making some cake, now there was something I did miss, home cooking, "yeah please ma'm, if you got one?" I felt an idiot, why would she have a sign in the window saying 'vacancies' if she didn't have any, "I don't know how long I'd be a staying though" she looked at me again, I could feel myself coloring up, why? I couldn't say, "Oh by the way, old Frank sent me."<br/><br/>A smile broke on the old girl's face, her eye's seemed to have a glint in them as if she was remembering some old memory of this Frank in years gone by, she finally said, "come in, come in, don't just stand there, come in,"<br/><br/>I walked into a huge hallway, beautifully decorated and the furnishing's were so clean, in front of me a stairway leading up to a landing that was crowned with a stained glass window, it was like I had been transported back in time, to an era that was a proud and wonderful time.<br/><br/>The old woman turned and introduced herself, "my name is Elizabeth, but people called me Liz, you look like you have a hard time sonny?" She asked questionably, "The name is Max ma'm, Max Kalowski, I used to be a cop," I don't why I told her that I used to be a cop a long time back, she looked at me and gave me that smile again, "well Max that is good to know."<br/><br/>She started to walk up the stairs, telling me that the room would be fifty dollars a week that it including an evening meal and if I wanted breakfast she was sure that she could arrange something.<br/><br/>Liz opened a door to a room, the insides were just like the rest of the house, immaculate in every way, I followed her inside, she opened another door and said, "this is your bathroom," I looked inside and smiled when I saw a roll top bath, turning, I look towards the bed, it was a four poster, complete with satin sheets, oh my word, I thought, this was amazing.<br/><br/>"Anything else you need Max?" I looked at Liz and smiled, "Just a hot tub and a good sleep will suffice" I pulled out my wallet and took out a hundred bucks and placed it in Liz's hand, "Thank you so much," I said, she smiled and toddled off to do what ever she was doing before I arrived, closing the door behind her.<br/><br/>I went to the bathroom and started to run the water, stripping off my clothes and piling them in the corner, I stood naked looking at myself in the mirror, I was a mess to put it bluntly. It was like I was looking at another man stood in front of myself, the pain in my eyes was evident, lifting my right arm I inspected a scar that ran from my spine to my right breast, I said aloud, "You're supposed to be thankful you're alive, that's what the doctors said, I hate you," I raised a fist and stopped myself from smashing the mirror.<br/><br/>Turning I noticed that there was enough water in the tub, lowering myself into the hot water, I let caress me, about a hour later I got into bed and fell asleep.