Chapter 12

• I woke up several times during the night, but managed to prevent myself from being drawn too far into my nightmares. When Vici picked me up, I was at the end of my tether, but at least I was okay on the outside. She, on the other hand, radiated a joy that was almost spooky to me.
• We set off in two vehicles straight after breakfast and Victoria was absolutely serious, when she talked about a full program. First of all, she dragged us to a manicure, followed by extensive shopping. She chose dress after dress for me while I picked out things for her. Then we had a late lunch, followed by new shoes. For the grand finale, she pushed me into a hairdresser, where she had probably made an appointment in advance.
• We both got our hair cut, but I only wanted a light layered cut. We were allowed to change at the hairdresser's and Vici forced me into a skin-tight black cocktail dress, which was studded with so many crystals that it sparkled like the starry sky. It was just above my knees, but I managed to make it long-sleeved. The Carmen neckline made it look more revealing than a lot of my other clothes. I was pushed back into the chair, where I was made up and styled.