I
She could not stop staring at the clock. Her eyes completely used to darkness by now. She had to leave everything the way it is to avoid any possible questions afterwards.
She had other card ready together with new cell phone and some cash. Key duplicate was made weeks ago. She even managed to pack little make up bag without any suspicion.
It was 2 a . m. he was asleep deeply. It was time to go. She went to the toilet and search for the shoe box that was left there with all small possessions and some clothes. “Thank God is summer!” - she thought while pulling out light pair of training trousers folded into small tube. She set on the pan trying to put her socks on. Silence was deadly. She could hear heart pounding in her ears. Few more moments and this all would be over. She just has to be very careful. White T-shirt and she is done.
Her trainers were standing near the door in the corner so they would not attract anyone’s attention. She knew that and knew exactly where to look for them in the dark. Same story was with her hooded jacket. She prepared it all during the day. Even though it was summer time she did not know how long she would spend alone on the street during the night. Last detail – her belt – bag! One click and all her belongings on her waist – ready to go.
She wanted to pee but was afraid to flash water afterwards. “I'll do it outside...anywhere but here!”
She hid her belt – bag under her trousers just in case. If he wakes up when she opens the door he'll thinks she is in her PJ's.
She moved into hallway. He wasn't there. She turned off the light and stood there giving her eyes a moment to adjust. She opened bathroom door and dropped her changed PJ's there. She heard some movements and looked the door.
She grabbed hoody from the rack that was thoughtfully hidden under the jeans jacket. Than she moved to find shoes but jacket's sleeve pushed things near the mirror and clinking sound pierced the silence of the night.
“OMG! NO! I'm dead” all those thoughts crashed her but she did not stop looking for her trainers. She had one in her hand when sound from the bathroom reminded her to move faster. She could not afford to loose this time. She planned it for too long to let it blow up like this.
She found both shoes and moved to the door. She had all needed to runaway. She just had to go through two doors and she is free. Noise in the bathroom grew with every second. She had around 2 minutes to do this.
First door wasn't locked and did not make much noise. But second one was a toughie. She turned lower lock it clicked and opened. Slowly she pooled one bar of the upper lock and put it to hold and than moved second bar and pushed door slightly and felt night breeze brushing against her ankle.
“Freedom!!!!”... “Not quiet yet!”... She held her shoes in one hand and squeezed herself out as quick and soundless as she could. She pressed lock bar to close the door behind and at that moment she saw bathroom door opening. It was time to run! She locked the door and run downstairs, trying to put her trainers on the way. She listened. No one opened the door to run after her. She put second trainer, removed belt from under her trousers and ran.
Her adrenalin level was making her sick. But she could not stop smiling. She almost did it! Few more hours and she is free woman. She needed a drink and a cigarette! But first she needed to get out of the building. She pressed the button and door unlocked itself alarming this event with series of sounds. She stepped out and moved in the left corner. That was the only corner invisible to their balcony. She pooled hood over her head. Stood there listening to the night and when no sound seemed odd – she ran. She ran towards her future and freedom. She knew she had to be fast and need to turn as soon as possible. There were few drunks who stared at her running and laughed. She could not care less.
There were no cars. In the dark were few homeless arguing about almost empty bottle of vodka. She stopped on the crossroads and waited for it to turn green. She did not felt tired she felt like natural high came into her blood stream and kept her going.
She saw a 24h stand with alcohol and smoke. She has been so good for so long and now she could've been herself again.
She stopped, unzipped her belt and looked through her money. She pooled out one hundred and leaned in to the window “Pack of Lucky Strikes Silver, please and ….Do you have cold champagne? No…What do you have cold? Beer....Nhee…O! I see cider...And cider please.”
- “38,50”
- “There”… “Oh shit, I need a lighter as well”
- “41,50”
- “Thank you!”
She turned around. Streets were silent. No taxi. No cars. City slept tight. On the night of her Freedom City
She looked for the trash bin and a place to sit. As she moved towards a bus stop while unwrap her pack, there he was, moving towards her and not actually seeing her. High on something that usually runs through and mixed in blood. Pointing to her cigarette pack and mumbling something. She took out two ciggies and passed them to him. Staying completely calm and ignorant to the fact that she is here alone she tried to move on. He took cigarettes and moved along. She set on a bus stop bench, lit hers and opened cider with the lighter. Night was crisp and quiet. Cider was sweet and nicely cool. Cigarettes tasted like crap but nicotine made his work and she felt dizzy. She smiled and kept smoking and drinking.
She unzipped her belt and pulled her phone. It was brand new phone with new Sim-card and no one but HE new that number. She turned it on and after few seconds display showed time - 2.35 a . m.
They had an agreement to contact at 3 a . m. She needed a taxi. “There should be a taxi somewhere!” - she lit up next cigarette enjoying her cider. Stood there thinking what to do next if no cars would show. When suddenly, her phone rang. She jumped up. There were three letters on the screen “MAN”. She answered it.
- “Where are you?”
- “I'm still not far from the house. On a bus stop”
- “Are you insane? Get out of there!”
- “There are no cars or taxi! Nothing!”
- “OK babe, I'll come to get ya! Just do me a favor – move to the next bus stop at least!”
- “OK”
- “Get us something to celebrate!”
- “Cool champagne will do?”
- “With you – anything!”
- “I'll be at the next bus stop. Don't take too long”
She came back to the stand
- “I'll take that Champagne
- “60”
- “Here”
- “….”
- “Thank you...”
She lit up another cigarette and moved towards next stop. She was dizzy and happy and excited and yet upset. She couldn't figure out why. Maybe part of her died tonight maybe all of this was overwhelming or maybe adrenalin left her body and she felt a downer.
Her tiny figure moving in the night with bottles in one hand and cigarettes in other did attract attention from a drunken crowd. One guy separated from it and with loud encouragement he moved on her. She just smiled and made a drag.
- “Excuse me, miss…”
- “...”
- “Miss!”
She turned and smiled. She could see he expected some drunken ugly chick but not her fresh, young face.
- “Oh you were talking to me? How can I help?”
- “Ewww...Do you need someone to accompany you?” he was trying to sound as polite as possible. That was funny.
- “I am just going to the bus stop. I think I'll be fine”
- “Today will be no buses, you know! They are all on strike! Even taxi drivers!”
“Here is the reason why it is so quiet” - she thought to herself. - “I am still gonna go there if you don't mind”- she smiled politely and started to move when he appeared very closely and said:
- “I'll accompany you!”
- “OK” - she had no choice. She wished for the moment to be already in Spain
They followed the road. He offered his help in opening Champagne 2.55 a . m. Their flight was in 5 hours. She wanted to see Him.
- “What such a pretty girl doing so late at night alone, here???”
- “Just couldn't sleep. Too hot in the flat and plus needed to see my boyfriend...”
- “Ohhh…You have a boyfriend?”
- “Of course I have a boyfriend! Look at me”
- “Yeah you are beautiful...very...”
He leaned over and started to breathe heavily down her ear. She moved and looked at him with disgust.
- “Do you need more cigarettes?”
- “Nope”
- “Anything else I can do for you?”
- “It depends...Have you been a bad girl?”
She lit up and got up with the bottle in hand just in time to avoid be smitten by punch wave.
- “What took you so long?”
- “Sorry sweet pie, there no transport available!”
- “They are all on strike…”
- “You knew that???”
- “He told me...”
- “Who is he?”
- “Some jerk with a massive head ace tomorrow..” She smiled “ So glad to see you, baby”
He grabbed her tight and kissed with passion. She moved into his arms and reply to the kiss.
- “You are smoking again?”
- “It has been way too long”
- “Shall we? We have a lot of staff to do!”
- “Let's roll!
They went towards taxi. He held her hand and just before opening car door she stopped him. Took bottle from his hand and said “To us” sipped some and offered him from her lips. He took that offer and kissed her with all his passion.
Taxi driver started to cough. They pull away from each other to get inside the cab.
- “WE can go now! Cash & Carry”
- “Finally!”
They laughed at his remark and Brian pulled her closer.
- “How long do we have Kira?”
- “Full month”
- “Let's start!”
Here they were in the middle of the night finally together going away. Dream came through. For now...
