Save Me From Myself

Chapter 37-There's A Stranger In My House

Nina's POV

I looked at him not knowing whether to slap him or slap him or shut the door in his face. The perspective of having a stranger in my house was disturbing. In London one in three people were either a drug addict, a thief, an alcoholic or all of the above. I pondered whether to let him in or to slam the door in his face, but after a few minutes of thinking I swung open the door. After all, it's not like he had many things to steal and he couldn't quite go anywhere. After all, I knew where he lived.

"Thanks a million, I owe you one.", he said all happy.
"How did you manage to lock yourself out anyway?"
"I knew I had to leave the door on the latch and the key under the mat...nice apartment by the way.", he tried joking.
"Thanks...but you do realise this is just the hall...", I said showing him to the living room, rolling my eyes.

He looked around and sat on the sofa.

"Nice painting...who did it?", he asked me.
"I did...a long time ago..."
"Who is that woman? She is beautiful."
"My mother. It's the only memory I have of her...at least the way I imagined she looked like around this age...That and a photo."
"What happened to your mum?"
"She abandoned me when I was a kid...basically I grew up in a foster home since I was five.
"And your dad?"
"Never knew him...look these questions make me uncomfortable...I'll go get your bed ready...I can sleep on the couch..."
"Doesn't it give you back aches? It's quite uncomfortable...", he asked making an obvious remark to what I said the previous day.
"I don't think you fit in it...but if you prefer it I don't mind."
"I can't sleep anyway and I don't wanna bother you...at least not more than I already have."

I rolled my eyes as I went to my room and pulled out a sheet, a pillow, a pillow case and a blanket. I returned to the living room only to see Danny bended over a collection of CDs, looking carefully at each and every one.

"You seemed to have made yourself at home.", I muttered as I threw the sheet on the sofa, unfolding it.
"Impressive collection...and titles...didn't think you were a Beatles and Tina Turner fan."
"I am...what's the point? I grew up with these songs..."
"How old are you?"
"32..,actually going on 33 in October."
"Really?"
"Yes...really...", I said rolling my eyes probably the millionth time that evening and smiling.

People never actually believe I'm 32. I am. They either divide into two extremes. They either say I look younger or they say I look older. And when I throw in the fact that I have a teenage daughter and I'm divorced they have that awkward look. Yes, I have a daughter and yes she is a teenager. Fifteen to be precise. I was 17, young and dumb back in those days and I didn't think that I could get pregnant if I had sex without a condom. Which happened. And having Robin was the best thing that ever happened in my life.
A thing that I never regretted. And the other awkward stares I get is when I tell people I'm divorced.
But that's basically what happens when you live in a foster home most of the time. You don't have a mother to teach you stuff. I know I didn't have...she bailed too long ago. Just left me in a home, told me that she will come back, and, she never did. That's basically my life story.

I was a problem teenager for a while, even got kicked out of high school two times, the second time for being pregnant. Because the school policy didn't allow pregnant teens. Then I got married to the father of my kid and got divorced six years later. Robin was left in his care because I couldn't even provide for myself, let alone for her. Now things are easier, I can provide for myself, Robin is big enough to decide with what parent she wants to stay.

She loved me to bits and always came to visit me. And I was proud of her. Proud that even though she had what she wanted from me and her father, who loved her as much as I did, was still top of her class. Concerts? She was there? Latest phone? She had it. Everything she ever wished for. But she also knew how to give something back. She rarely went to parties, spoke fluently three foreign languages and she studied and played guitar. How could I not be more proud of her?

"Your life is far far interesting than mine...this your sister?", she said pointing to a photo of me and Robin.
"No, that's my daughter.", I answered.

And there it was, the awkward stare. It's not like some people mean it. But looking at the two of us it was hard to believe that. She inherited everything from her father's side and too little from me. He looked at the photo again and then sat on the couch.

"So what's your life story?", I asked.
"It's complicated...I can't tell you now to be honest, but I can assure you I'm not a criminal or anything. I'm an honest man. And I have a decent job. I don't wanna hurt you..."
"Tea?", I asked as I fluffed the pillow.
"It's rather late..."
"Don't worry I don't have work in the morning and I can't sleep...at least not knowing there is a stranger in my house."
"Well, a tea would sound great...but I would much rather have a shower if you don't mind. I don't think I have the best of smells to be honest..."
"Sure...and I think I have something you can wear...it won't probably fit your legs but...", I said getting out of the living room.

He wasn't that bad. In a creepy way he didn't seem a bad man at all...I went to the bedroom and pulled a fresh towel, a pair of sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt that I used to wear in the house.

"The bathroom is down the hall...so I think you will be okay..."
"Yup...I will be grand...thanks..."

He returned back shortly, drying his hair out with the towel and trying to adjust the pants that were too short for him. I smiled again as I set two cups of tea on the table and some biscuits and I turned back to him.

"Sooo...now that we have the whole night...might as well tell me what's your story...", I said.
"There's nothing much to it...I fell in love, got married, divorced and my ex wife passed away before the divorce was given...I travel a lot with my work and that keeps me focused and takes my mind off it. That's about it...I don't have any children, not that I know of and I'm a decent hard working man."
"Nice...look...I'm really sorry about the way I reacted...you know...a relationship gone bad...he was the first man I tried to build up a life with after my divorce. I wanted him to meet my kid too...but things didn't come out as planned..."
"I'm sorry to hear that...I know how you feel...it's hard to move on and even harder when you have kids...but are you and your ex husband in good relationships?"
"Yes, we are, but when it comes to custody battles we are both animals. Now that Robin is old enough she can decide with what parent she wants to stay with...I always thought that giving your child an option is the best thing you could do."
"You're right...I was given a lot of options as a child and I turned out to be okay. Yeah, I pissed the shit out of my folks but I was okay...I turned out to be okay..."
"Apart from the fact that you are noisy and nosy you seem to be okay...", I nodded.
"Ah, you should get to know me better, I'm the least nosy guy ever...Noisy, yes I admit...I don't get to be too much at home so...I like going a bit crazy from time to time..."

He started telling me stories about how he grew up, talked about his family a lot, about his father who was his hero and his friends. He smiled a lot...sometimes he smiled a bit forced...like he was trying to mask away a sort of pain he was afraid to talk about. We never knew how time passed, but fell asleep around morning, him on the sofa and me on the armchair.

I was woken up by a loud knock in the door. I looked at my watch only to discover that it was 1 in the afternoon. I went to the door and opened it. In front of me stood the bald man that opened his door last night.

"Hey, sorry to bother you, but have you seen my mate? Tried calling him but he has his phone in his apartment. I can hear it ringing. See?", he said pointing at his door.
"As a matter of fact I do...come in..."
"Jesus is he okay?"
"Yes he is...follow me.", I said leading him to the living room where Danny was snoring gently, with his head tilted on the couch and his mouth opened.
"What happened? Why is he? Did you?", he whispered.
"You're very blunt for someone who is in my house. Your friend forgot his keys in the house and his phone. And it was too late to call anyone to bring his spare keys. But since you knocked at my door I assumed you already knew he might do that..."
"Yeah a habit of his...Danny...Danny...Danny fucking O'Donoghue fucking wake up this instant!!!!"

Danny woke up even more startled than I was in the morning and I couldn't help but giggling.

"I knew you'd do something like that you eejit! Jesus Dan! What the fuck are you wearing!"
"Long story...thanks for everything Nina."
"You're welcome. Next time don't forget your keys okay?"
"I'll give you back the clothes...", he beamed.
"Don't worry you can keep them...", I laughed.