Breathing Underwater

In Chapter 1, we meet Nick Andreas, a 16-year-old boy who arrives at a courthouse in Miami, Florida, because his ex-girlfriend has filed a restraining order against him. He is with his father, a Greek immigrant who appears well-dressed and well-mannered. In the courtroom, Nick tries to talk to Caitlin, but his father pushes him away.

Caitlin testifies that her relationship with Nick was sexual and consensual but violent, and she is in fear for her life. Nick justifies the abuse to himself by saying it was only one slap when she provoked him. We learn that he is ashamed of how much he looks like his father. Nick lives alone with him after his mother left when Nick was five. On the stand, Nick claims that Caitlin is lying, but the Judge does not believe him. She grants the restraining order and warns Nick that if he contacts Caitlin, he will go to jail. She orders that he attend six months of counseling and keep a journal describing everything that happened with Caitlin; he must write 500 words per week. She promises not to read it unless he wants her to.

When they leave, Nick’s father yells at him in the car.