You Are What Dreams Are Made Of

Chapter 5: Valentina

Valentina

Two months have gone by since the horrid contract was first signed under the trees, five weeks since he had his way with me in the restroom. We occasionally ran into each other in the school hallways, and I would spot him at lunch every single school day.

I was sure he looked at me, for when his head turned in my direction, mine turned away.

It was as if we were in sync.

I hated living like this averting my eyes, walking fast away leaving my bestfriend Lidia behind. A chirp of my fucking phone is all it takes for my heart to drop.

Luckily it never was Richard, I had a bit of hope, that as he had said, he had tired of my thin body, that maybe this would occur once a year.

Enough time for me to get a half-time job save some money and end this contract, but the zeros, five thousand dollars while helping out with expenses at home at the same time.

Ignoring its impossibility, I had to try for as one of the quotes I use all the time in my college essays, "You miss all the chances, you don't take."

I go through the newspaper every time it's delivered, I ask stores, restaurants, offices anywhere for a job opening. I cant have bad luck forever something will come in my direction soon. I need only wait, or try twice as hard.

"Valentina i'll be leaving now, I left some oatmeal for you in the kitchen." Mother had been working this past months every day, from early morning to noon. After telling a friend about almost getting kicked out she offered her a job as a dishwasher for her restaurant. "It isn't much but at least it's something". She had said with a smile.

"Yes mom take care." We made just enough money for rent and food.

This meant I didn't have to ask Richard for more, and extend the 5,000 dollars which I owed him.

After an hour of studying I closed the Calculus med-term review and went to the kitchen.

I heated up the oatmeal mama had left, just as I was about to take a mouthful a loud thud came from the metal door. My heart began to rise it felt like it would come out of my chest.

I grabbed onto a metal pan my hands were trembling.

"Open the door." Another thud, "it's me Johnny open the door for god's sake."

I sighed in relief it was only dad probably back from the usual night between bars and casinos god knows how he managed to get any money to support his excesses.

My theory is he was a sorcerer, he is a sorcerer stealing everyone's luck and actually wining at casinos.

The more realistic explanation was him borrowing money from close friends or making them pay for his drinks. We dared not investigate further, it may link us to his debts, and we didn't want that.

I ran to the door and unlocked it, he came barging in shoving me sideways. He tumbled to the restroom and threw up, I could only bring him a cup of water.

After he was done emptying his bowls into the toilet he drank the entire cup of water and went into his bedroom shutting the door behind him, he must be tired.

I shrugged my shoulders and resumed eating my oatmeal. I become numb to this kind of situations.

My phone chirped probably mom checking up on me, or Lidia inviting me somewhere. I placed the white bowl on the dish drying rack and rushed to my room.

My hand hovered above my phone, a dreaded name illuminated the screen. 'Richard," he was calling, I couldn't ignore it, he would only call again.

I took a deep breath and answered. "Yes?"