Jean was unexpectedly quiet, Pieck noticed. Normally, his husband would not stop talking during the trip. When they were going to visit other countries, in search of survivors, he would talk, all the time, even if it was only for comment the color of the sky or the weather at that moment.
But not now. Now, he was terribly quiet, watching the landscape through the train window. It was strange. Before the photograph and the interviews, he was normal. He was his bragging, arrogant normal self. But, as soon as they got into the train, in their way to Trost, he closed his mouth, unable to open it again. She expected him to talk unstoppable about his home, the streets, his mom, as he has done for the last two weeks. Whereas, he just stayed quiet, looking painfully at the mountains, as if he doesn’t want to arrive Trost.
“I’m going to take something to eat. Want anything?” she asked, in hope for him to murmur something. But he just nods, without looking at her. “I’ll be right back. Don’t worry”
He didn’t say anything as se walked about to the cafeteria wagon. She walked slow, she didn’t get used to stand in two legs, and she usually gets supported by a cane, and at that moment was not an exception. That was another prove that Jean wasn’t feeling correctly. He always tried to go with her whenever she went to take something, even when he was sick. Whatever was going on in his husband’s mind, it was worrying her. Something was off, really off, and she couldn’t do nothing about it, ´cause she didn’t even know what happened. The cafeteria was full. Something that annoyed her, she needed to think, trying to solve the puzzle that must be in her husband’s mind. She took some coffee and te, also, she didn’t forgot the sandwiches and the chocolate; maybe sweet could cure Jeans stress. While she tried to get out of the wagon someone pushed her and made her fall with the food. She watched him apart while she tried to stand up.
“Pieck?” She heard. As she raised her head, she saw Reiner and Connie in front of her, helping to pick up what fell.
“Where’s Jean?”Connie asked “why isn’t he with you?”
Her eyed fulled with tears.
“Something is wrong with him” she muttered “when we got on the train. He doesn’t speak. He looks through the window. He seems like he’s going to cry. And I… I don’t know what to do or what is bothering him” But they did, she noticed. Reiner’s face lowered, in some kind of regret and she saw how Connie gulped for contain the tears.
“I’ll go talk with him” he spoke, his voice was barely audible. He turned to his partner “stay with her”.
She didn’t saw them again until they got out of the train, three hours later. She only could think that it got worst. Now, it wasn’t only Jean who looked shit, it was also Connie, Reiner and herself
What the fuck was going on?
She felt the heat of a clothe around her. She looked at her husband, he looked back and smiled weakly.
“You must be cold” he said “ I’m sorry for being a bit weird, I was tired; the photos, the interviews… You know”.
Both knew that it wasn’t true, but she decided to believe him. She leaned on him, seeking more of his heat.
“It’s okey.”