Fool's Gold [Completed]

21: Talking to the Moon

I wasted no time getting out of the city. I told both Rita and Olivia that I wasn't going to be able to come in for awhile. Both tried to ask questions, but I didn't answer. I didn't want anybody to know what I was doing so they wouldn't try to stop me from leaving. The only person who would know was Shaina, but that was an unavoidable consequence of her buying my one way ticket down to Myrtle Beach.

I knew it was what I needed to do, though. The way I was living here, stripping and waitressing for a living, was no way to raise a child. A fresh start somewhere new, where nobody had the stigma of my occupation or my family background sitting in the back of their mind, would be beneficial for me. At least that's what I hoped. For once, I was doing something for myself instead of allowing life to steer me in whichever direction it chose to take me. I just hoped I was making the right decision for my baby.

I packed everything I could. All of my clothes fit into one suitcase and I brought my books and journals in another bag, but that was all I brought aside from two framed photographs. One was of me and my mother, the other a much newer addition of me, Shaina, and Chester. It wasn't much, but it would make this new house feel more like a home.

The morning sickness and my anxiety about the trip made the flight to Myrtle Beach worse than I would've liked. It became more apparent the effect the Xanax I'd taken before flying to London had on me. I almost wish I'd had one then, but I probably wouldn't have been able to take it anyway.

A woman seated near the back switched seats with me so that I could be closer to the bathroom and wouldn't have to move as far and I made sure to buy her lunch when we got to the airport in Myrtle Beach. I found out her name was Mary-Jean and she was going to visit her three grandchildren, who she told me all about over burgers and fries which I had an incredibly strong craving for.

When she asked why I was down here, I wasn't sure what to say at first. It wasn't like it was obvious yet that I was showing, but she gave me a knowing look when I'd been making my way to and from the bathroom on the plane. I ended up telling her, only explaining that the father wasn't in the picture and I was here for a fresh start. We parted ways when we were done, but not after exchanging numbers. She insisted on checking in on me to make sure I was doing alright throughout the pregnancy. Who was I to turn down an offer like that?

I eventually found my way to the beach house. Shaina had given me the address, so I hailed a cab -- a much easier feat than it was back home -- and relaxed the whole 25 minute drive, making light conversation, but mostly enjoying the scenery.

The sky was a clear bright blue, hardly a cloud in the sky, and the sun slowly falling off to the west as the afternoon drew to a close. I had always wanted to go to the beach. Whenever I saw it in movies, I'd feel an insane urge to pack my bags and go, but we never had the money or the means to get there, so I lived vicariously through our television screen.

Now I was here, alone. That hadn't been the initial plan, but things change. People change.

"Here we are," the driver said, catching my attention and breaking the focus I'd had on the passing houses. They were all so colorful and put together differently than the one right next door, a huge change from the city skyline I was so used to.

The house that the cab pulled in front of was a peachy-cream color, two stories with plenty of windows and what looked like plenty of rooms as well. I paid the driver and began to get out when I heard his voice again.

"Do you need any help?"

"No, I should be okay," I responded, giving him a warm smile and sliding him a few more dollars. "Thank you so much for the ride."

As soon as I stepped out of the car, I was greeted by the low hum of seagulls and the buzz of the ocean waters nearby. The air smelt of it too and I took in a deep breath, wanting to drink it all in. I grabbed my suitcase and the bag with my books and notebooks, slinging the latter over top of the suitcase so I could roll it up to the steps leading to the front door.