Myocardium

Part 15

In the dressing room of the cathouse, I meet Jesse and Crystal. Since I'm already wearing some makeup, I use the opportunity to finish off the look with some subtle eyeliner and something to lighten my blemishes and bruises. While dressing myself for work, I notice the multiple, dark hematomas on my chest and ribs. Apparently, Crystal notices too. 

"Wow, who fucked you up that badly, kid?", she asks me, I play it off as just having gotten into an argument. The bruises are well-hidden under my crop-top anyway, so I don't even bother covering them. The only spot that is visible while I'm dressed is the ever-growing one on my arm. I hesitate when I reach for the sealed syringe, Rafael's words are stuck in my head. The heroin knows how to negate the guilt I feel when I end up doing it anyway, so the relaxation and fogginess I feel works wonders for me.

I check my hair, makeup and clothes once more and make my way to the sofas, sit down and let the poison take over me for a bit. It relieves me to the point of almost making me fall asleep. Though I don't close my eyes, I stare off into the endless nothingness and try to remain as pretty as possible. 

While I'm waiting for someone to strike up a conversation, I see in the corner of my eye how this oh so familiar silhouette enters the room and lets his eyes wander through the room. He doesn't notice me. Since nobody else shows interest in me, I get up and head over to him, who's sitting by the bar and staring at his glass of whisky mindlessly.

Rafael seems to be so lost in his thoughts that he doesn't even notice me when I sit down next to him. He looks concerned, possibly even a bit sad. Gently, I raise my voice and catch his attention, "Are you alright? Something seems to bother you."

Almost a bit shocked, Rafael looks at me and softens his expression as soon as his eyes meet mine.
"Oh, hi there. No, I'm alright, just had an exhausting day at work", he chuckles and even seems glad to talk to me. I'm glad he's here too, if he wasn't, I would have nobody to talk to.
"Oh, really? How come?", I ask in faked oblivion, of course I know what happened just hours prior. 

"You know, just the usual. Holding lectures, preparing classes...breaking up two kids beating each other down", he laughs empathetically.
"Oh, that must have been exhausting for sure, I'm sorry to hear that. I bet one of the kids really appreciates you stepping in for him," I mutter and support my head with my fist while looking at him as if I'm caught in a trance. I mean, I am intoxicated, so this explains a lot, I guess.

"Do you...have some time for me right now? You wanna go to the back a bit?", he growls in a sweet, deep voice – I nod approvingly, letting him lead the way to my backroom. After closing the door behind us, I stand in front of him awkwardly and stare at him without saying anything. My first reaction to this silence is to walk over to the bed and sit down, all while he's still looking straight into my eyes, also at a lack of words. Yeah, this certainly isn't awkward at all...What the hell is he even doing here? 

Like...logically, there cannot be any proper motive for him to show up at this place again, right?

"So, what do you want to do to me tonight, Sir?", I jokingly ask him and let myself fall onto the mattress, but my aching ribs remind me that I should probably not do this.
"I don't know, what do you w-...", he sets to respond, but stops talking when he hears me hiss in pain, he watches my expression distort for a second before turning back to normal. 

"Hey, what's wrong? Are you in pain?", he asks and steps towards the bed, but I stay where I am, shake my head and confess, "It's okay, my ribs just hurt a bit from that fight with this asshole kid today."

The concern on his face deepens a bit and caringly, he speaks up again,
"Do you...want me to take a look at it to see if anything's fractured or damaged? I mean, I'm a doctor for a reason after all." His professionalism makes me feel...something. There's this weird, warm and tingly feeling in my belly, although I don't know what exactly it is.