Another Day

Chapter 16

In the second week of Danny’s departure my nineteenth birthday happened to occur. I wasn’t really up for celebrating, but Linda wouldn’t have it. She actually gave up a day with Paul to focus on me.

Yay.

By now, she figured out George was a touchy subject, so she steered clear of anything Beatle related. Instead, she treated me to a day of shopping at her expense, which I did appreciate.

Just when I thought all the birthday fun was over, she wagged her finger in my face. “Absolutely not! You are not spending tonight brooding alone in your apartment.”

I sighed, but didn’t object. There wasn’t any point.

She dragged me to a club that was a bit on the posh side but not so much that we didn’t feel out of place.

It was loud, so loud I had to shout at Linda if I wanted to speak. That exhilarating feeling came back. I wanted to get caught up in the fun and forget about being sad.

And that is exactly what I did.

Not even twenty minutes into the hour I had already lost Linda and latched onto someone else. His name was Mike, or Tom, or something. I didn’t much care. He was nice, but a bit of a prick. I played along with his puffed up attitude, knowing very well he probably had a girlfriend waiting back home for him.

That didn’t bother me; after all, I had Danny. Sort of, I guess.

Since I had already done the best thing I could do to damage my relationship with Danny I didn’t think it would be any worse to have a little harmless fun for a couple hours with a semi-attractive complete stranger. I drank, a bit more than I should have, but still not enough to let this Mike/Tom guy up my skirt.

We danced wildly together. He was skilled, I was not. After several songs and shots we collapsed on a couch a little ways off from the floor. I grabbed another drink and we clinked our glasses together.

“So” I said loudly over the halfway decent band. “What’s your girl like?”

He ducked his head, confusedly. Mike/Tom played the single guy part well, but I was not stupid, only intoxicated.

“I’m sorry?” He asked. His accent was too high class, too clean. I missed the Scouse edge that was so enjoyable…

I swept that thought away, focusing on the man in front of me. I laughed good-naturedly. “You know, your girlfriend. Don’t tell me you’re single.”

He smiled and slammed back his drink. “How’d you know?” He laughed. I was surprised how out he was about it.

“Well for one, you keep checking your watch.”

He smiled sheepishly.

“And you keep rubbing your third finger.” I pointed to his left hand where he had been scratching.

“I suppose you’re expecting an engagement soon?” I asked. The man laughed. “You’re smarter than I thought.” I shrugged. “I look a lot dumber than I am.”

The playfulness faded from his face for a second as he looked at me. I knew what he wanted, but hell would freeze over before he got it from me. I slung back my drink.

“Are you alright with it?” He asked seriously. I just laughed and reached out to pat his knee. “I’m terribly sorry to inform you, but I am involved with someone.”

He shrugged. “So am I. What’s your point?”

I only laughed again. “If you don’t want to end up alone for the rest of your life I advise you to go on home to the only woman in the world who foolishly loves your cheating arse.”

He looked at me blankly. I got to my feet, a bit steadier than I was expecting. “It was nice to meet you, but not really.” I giggled a little, hiccupping.

Walking away from him I really just wanted to go home, but Linda was no where to be found. I milled around, trying to stay on my feet and look for her but gave up after stumbling around looking like an idiot. She’d find her way home eventually, she was a big girl.

So I left.

It was dark out, surely past midnight. The sidewalk wasn’t busy, which was strange for a London night. I shuffled along with my head down. Nothing around here was too terribly foreign but in my frazzled state it was easy to get confused.

When I found myself getting no where I started to panic a little. Calming down was not an option with the alcohol in my stomach.

Suddenly, I slipped, my shoe going one way and the rest of me the other. “Ow” I whispered, catching myself on the wall of a building. I reached down to inspect my ankle, which didn’t seem seriously harmed.

A man approached me. “Are you alright?” He asked me kindly. I ran my fingers along my ankle, nodding absentmindedly. “Yeah I think so, I just stumbled a little.” I laughed nervously. “Are you sure?” He pressed, an edge in his voice. Surprised at the sudden gruffness, I looked up.

I gasped.

Nonchalantly held in front of him, like he was offering a hand, he held a frightening looking switch blade. I glanced around me, my heart hammering in my chest. No one was nearby. I was on my own.

I tried to back away from him, hobbling a little. “I...don’t want any trouble…please.” I stammered, fear starting to creep up in my chest. He stepped after me, grabbing my arm, dragging me with him.

“Let go!” I said shrilly. He pushed me into the walk space between two buildings and grasped my elbow tightly, getting right in my face. I couldn’t see much.

“Just give me your money sweetheart and I’ll let ya’ go.” He growled. I tried to pull away from him hastily but his grip was too strong.

“I don’t have any money I swear. Let me go!” I choked out. Panic was starting to cloud my mind and I couldn’t calm down. In blind fear I tried to slap him but he grabbed my wrist painfully with the hand holding his blade. The edge pressed into my palm. I could feel the biting pain of a cut beginning to crawl up my arm.

He shook me roughly. “Dammit give me your…!” I kicked him in the groin then, and started to run. Tears were pricking at my eyes and I blindly stumbled around, desperate and terrified. The heels got in my way of escape, and I stopped to tear them off. Before I could even slip the strap from my heel the man caught up to me. A fist collided with my face and I screamed, stumbling back into the wall. I threw my hands up to cover my face but he aimed lower, hitting me in the side…with the hand that held his knife.

I screamed like never before, pain ripping through my abdomen, tears pouring down my cheeks. He slapped my face, yelling something. I couldn’t hear him over my own hysterical sobbing. He let go, dropping me, and I fell to the ground, my back to the brick wall. The man cursed again, and then I heard him running away, leaving me there.

I put a hand to my side, drawling back and finding blood. I started to shake, sobs bursting from me in painful gasps. I couldn’t look at it; I didn’t want to throw up. Crawling, I made my way out on to the sidewalk. The screaming that had started when he first struck me didn’t stop. It occurred to me that I may actually die here.

Alone and scared.

The thought itself almost sent me into hysteria as I struggled to breathe correctly. Still no one was around, my screaming was futile. But that didn’t make me stop.

I’d never thought about death much before. It was something that happened sure, but not to me. Not to anyone I really cared about. But right now it was a real possibility, and I couldn’t stop thinking how much I didn’t want to die.

If I died here, I would never see Danny again, or Linda, or Ruth, or James or Susan... Or George.

I’d never get to see his smile again, that crooked grin that always made him look younger than he was. I’d never hear him laugh again, never experience his wonderfully dry sense of humor again.

I’d never see those beautiful, deep, hazel eyes of his one last time. I’d never get to tell him I was falling in love with him.