Forbidden Freedoms

Angel on my shoulder

     The meeting had gone better then he expected. They were satisfied at least for now that he was just a victim of circumstance in the chaos of the last 24 or so hours. He fully intended to follow the instructions given and carry on as normal whilst keeping a low profile. Do not draw attention to himself and let the dramas blow away. Billy got his uniform on grabbed his jacket and headed to work. Work was normal. Work was the safe routine he had become accustomed to. Work was were Charlie would be.
     He took a more long routed direction to work as to avoid walking past the house he had entered just the night before. Billys mind was still in overdrive and he felt paranoid that people were looking at him. He regretted not grabbing his cap as he left his flat as he could have pulled the peak down and masked his face from the World. Head down, thought Billy. If he didn't make eye contact then he could pretend at least in his  head that the people on the streets didn't exist. The journey though only a few minutes longer then his normal routine felt like an eternity. He arrived at work and craved the mundaness of his role as a mere waiter. Everyone who knew him as he walked into the already busy restaurant began to clap. The community was recognising his feat of heroics from the previous night. Going about his life being unnoticed was not going to be such an easy task.
      Billy was embarrassed by this welcome and it didn't help his ever-growing feeling of paranoia. People noticed him. People were looking at him. Peoples focus was upon him. For once Adams asshole attitude helped Billy as Adam strides out of the office, around the counter and straight to Billy. "Well someone's Mr Popular today aint they" Adam sarcastically drooled. "thats enough powdering to people Billy. Your here to work so go on get in the back and get ready" Adam placed his hand on Billys back and ushered him towards the back. Adam hated  anyone getting  attention but in doing so had helped Billy escape from a lime light he never coverted.
      As Billy walked through the door he felt another hand in his back. This hand was not forceful. This hand was soft and comforting. It was Charlie. " hey babes, you never messaged me back earlier so I was worried about you" her words soothed Billys mind like an addictive drug. Using her healing hand to gently rub Billys back she spoke again but not in her usual bubbly manner ."I didn't want to keep bothering you. I knew you'd get in touch when you felt able to do so" her tone had morphed from playful friend to loyal companion as if she now provided an emotional crutch rather then friendly ear. No words were needed for Billy to convey his mood. His slumped shoulders and tired eyes portrayed a defeated man. A fighter awaiting the decisive knockout punch. Charlie moved her hand up his back and ruffled his hair "we got this babes". With that Billy knew he would get through this shift. He knew he shouldn't be there and that he should be resting. He knew that he needed to be there. To be normal. Charlie gave him the strength to go out there and get on with life.
      All through the evening people told him how brave he was. All the time making him feel more and more uncomfortable. Each time he felt the attention making him feel trapped there was a gentle hand on his back. She kept him strong. How can people say he was brave when he needed her  so much tonight? Billys head needed a factory reset. Everything seemed so artifical, the people, the job... life. Billy couldn't decide if he was having anxiety episodes or it was the effects of all the smoke. He wasn't himself. His persona was slipping way.
     Adam watched the attention Billy was getting loathing every second of it. He craved it for himself. More and more Adam desperately tried to get Charlie's attention and move her away from Billy. Everytime she found her way back by his side. In his mind he had always been Charlie's point of focus. He assumed she admired his none existent leadership skills and craved his attention. He couldn't have been more mistaken as now it became clear that Charlie had flirted with Adam just out of general niceness and that Billy was the one she had bonded with. Ego dents such as these do not always sit well with those who have even a glimpse of authority. Adam wanted Charlie purely because he couldn't have her.
     The shift finally neared its conclusion. Billy was thankful he had gotten through it and that after the initial flurry of attention things had returned to more normality. Billy allowed himself to relax more. He felt more like his mask wasn't slipping away so easily. Billy smiled as Charlie was leading the charge to get things done so everyone could enjoy a well earned drink. She seemed so much stronger then before. Adam strides out of his office with a bitter look on his face " come on guys I wanna get home tonight at a decent hour. Less chatting more cleaning". Adam turned to Billy "Can I speak to you in the office when your done". This wasn't phrased as a request. Clean up was done and Billy was directed into the office. Charlie needed to get back early tonight as she had used her baby sitter late last night to go and check on Billy in the hospital. She didn't feel like she could ask the sitter to stay late again. She looked for Billy to check he was ok and to say goodnight but saw him sat in the office. She wished she could wait to speak to him but needed to go. For the first time this evening she wasn't by Billys side and he felt unarmed.
     Adam didn't even really want or need to speak to Billy he just wanted to pry him away from Charlie. Adam took a big swig of his coffee turned to Billy and patronisingly said "So how you feeling buddy?". Billy didn't acknowledge him with more then a sigh. "I'm guessing things have been a bit draining for you and thought maybe you would need to take some time off" Adams tone was aggressive like he was trying to push Billy away from work. "You should take time away from work. From everyone here . Take time for yourself " Adam wanted Billy away from the eyes of  those he coverted.  "Thats in your best interests. So shall we say 2 weeks away?" Adam pushed a form towards Billy across the desk that Adam had already signed and dated. Billy glanced down at the form. It was a compassionate leave form. Billy would get paid and not be at work. It was designed to made Adam look like a caring boss in the eyes of others. Especially in the eyes of one he hoped. "So if your happy let's get this signed and all go home" hissed Adam through his false grin. Billy knew he needed to be here and close to Charlie. He sat there no words came from him. He was again waiting for the knock out punch to finish him off. Adam sensing that his plan wasn't working got flustered "well if you don't want it then don't feel like you have to take it. Im only looking after you. We all care about you. But like I say if you don't want it then feel free to just carry on". Adam hoped this emotional bluff would make Billy sign and disappear. Billy shook his head. Pushed the paper away, stood up and left the office. Everyone else had gone. He grabbed his coat and  set off to walk home. His phone struggles for signal but after a minute buzzed and vibrated.  It was a message from Charlie

- I hope Adam wasn't being a dick to you lol. You did amazing tonight.

The phone buzzed again. Another message from Charlie

- you really need to get into the 21st Century. Your all over the Internet. Your a sensation! Your gonna be famous for your actions.

A final buzz from the phone

-let me know you get home safe. Always here for you. Xxxx.

Billy only processed the bit about being all over the Internet. This was not keeping a low profile. This was definitely an incident. He stood there stumped as to what action to take next..... "shit"