UNTIL DAWN

Chapter Nine

HAZEL'S POV

(Song for this chapter: Paloma Faith - 

Only Love Can Hurt Like This)

Of course I should have known better.

I should have left right thing in the morning before it came to this. At least he should have said something before planning to get rid of me'

The uber stopped in my neighborhood; Williamsburg, Brooklyn and I took a deep breath before stepping out. One of the homeless women was sitting on the stairs waiting for the night to come, smoking weed, some kids were screaming on top of their lungs in one of the apartments and at that moment a feeling of nostalgia hit me.

I started to recall the first time we moved here, dad looked at me with conflicted emotions when he realized the kind of neighborhood we were going to live in.

As we walked by, we noticed a group of homeless people in the long dark alley, somewhere above us someone was screaming and a few guys were smoking weed or whatever it was on the stairs.

I was terrified, to the point that I almost ran from there to hide under my childhood bed but deep down I knew that it was to become my everyday life. They were going to be a part of our lives so, the earlier I adjusted the better it was. I did my best to hide it though. I had to show him my strong side for him to focus on his treatment.

"I am so sorry sweetheart, I never meant for this to happen."

"I will be fine dad, it's not like we are going to live here forever. We will go home after you are discharged."

At that time, I had a lot of hope that he was going to be okay no matter what.

Back home, our neighborhood was nothing special but it was safer than Williamsburg. We lived in Washington Heights, the upper part of NY but for dad to get better treatment he was referred to the hospital in the big city and it was normal for us to move closer for me to be able to take care of him and find a job myself.

And now he is gone.

The dirty floor of the array led me to the entrance of the diner, an old building where I used to work part time.

Mike stood there watching me with a sad smile.

My best friend was here. He was waiting for me.

"Don't think about anything or say anything. Just come here."

He opened his arms wide, waiting for me to fall into them.

And I did.

It was so comforting knowing that my screw ups did not end our friendship. We were not together but he was still Mike. As if my mind realized how much I needed his comforting hug, I started to tear up and he instinctively held me tighter causing me to cry even more.

Mike's hug held a sense of security and familiarity.

That was not the case for Ace's. It was bigger and warmer and It made me crave to stay there forever.

That was not safe.

It threatened my heart.

The voice of the man who called me earlier rang in my ears. My heart was never going to be safe with Ace.

In the afternoon an unknown number called asking if I was ready to move. I was surprised to find out that it was Ace who was behind it. He wanted to move me to a new apartment. Did he really think that I stayed at his penthouse because I wanted anything from him? Even if he was being thoughtful I didn't need his pity.