The Rider

Cheseburger

"Sometimes you aren't the only one going through some shit." -Me
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"I'll have the double cheeseburger to go"

"That'll be 10 dollars, 75 cents."

I give her 20 dollars and tell her to keep the change. I know how it feels to work a night shift every fucking night and no one ever tips you.

There's a full moon tonight and the air has never felt warmer. I decide to sit at one of the tables outside and enjoy the view of the moon. The air hits my face in a refreshing way, the wind is playing a song that only the birds can sing to. The city lights are out and it looks amazing. The tall buildings and flashy lights of New York have never looked better. I sit on a chair and rest my feet on the wooden table, leaning on my back with my hands behind my head I take in a huge breath. I close my eyes and reminisce about my future.

My life's a fucking mess, I don't even know where to start. I don't have a job, I live in a crappy apartment and my money is running out. To make things worse I also have to attend this stupid event tomorrow. Aunt Laura sent the dress earlier today. I've never worn a dress before, ever... I'm not even sure if the thing comes with a mannual or not. She got a black sleeveless dress that shows off my back with nude heels. The thing looks like a flimsy nightgown. I don't like showing off skin. The dress was too revealing for my liking. I wonder what would happen if i showed up in my jeans and black shirt, riding my motorbike. Aunt Laura would probably kill me.

I chuckle at my own joke.

The place will probably be full of rich scumbags and their petty gossiping wives. Those women are fucking hypocrites.

"Mind if I sit here." I hear a deep voice interrupting me from my thoughts.
I open one eye and look at him head to toe.

"You know there are many other tables you can sit at?" I say looking around at the other empty tables.

He sits down in front of me ignoring what I just said.

"Yeah I know." He shrugs his shoulders.

I open both my eyes and crease my eyes. He is wearing a white dress shirt and black pants, the first buttons of his shirt are open, his messy brown hair is everywhere and he's holding a set of keys. He leans on the chair. He looks worn out and stressed, I can see it in his eyes and the way he tightened his jaw. He lets out breath and looks at the sky. His blue eyes look troubled and tired. He has that importance about him, you can see it on his face, the way he's dressed and how he walks as if he owns the place.

He then looks at me intensively.

"Isn't it a beautiful night." He says in deep thought. He looks neat and clean, his face doesn't have a single scar or imperfection on it. He looks...handsome.
I don't answer him but I keep looking at him without an emotion on my face.

"I'm guessing you don't talk much."

"Or you just don't like me."

He says now sitting properly and leaning on the table, closer to me.

"You have nice eyes you know. Eyes like yours are quite rare and unique I must say."

I ignore his little compliment and close my eyes. How long does it take to make a cheeseburger.

"So you're a photographer." He says talking about the camera around my neck. I ignore him completely hoping he gets the message.
I hear him sigh and it becomes quiet for a moment.

"You know there's nothing better than looking at the stars when life has hit you hard."

I open my eyes and look at him.

"I got a phone call today from my brother. I had just come home from work and was going through some paper work for a meeting tomorrow. I picked up the phone and guess what he said."

He looks at me with an emotion I've never seen before, it looks too deep, too raw.

"He says she didn't make it, she didn't make it. I never thought my life could change because of those four words. After a year of chemotherapy she didn't make it." His voice sounds distant now.

"She was only twelve for fucks sake! Instead of doing what girls did at her age she was going in and out of hospitals doing surgeries!"

"Now she's gone..."

"My Kerry is gone..."

His voice is shaky now and his eyes are glassy. He breathes out and closes his eyes, a tear slips from his eye but I remain quiet. Fuck I don't know what to do when people cry. Do I pat his back, touch his hand or give him a tissue? No only girls use tissues. Maybe he's one of the few guys that use tissues, I don't even have a fucking tissue on me.

"Was she your daughter?" I hear my raspy voice say as I shift uncomfortably in my seat.

He immediately opens his eyes.

"No.. my sister."

I've never had a sister or someone to look up to. It's quiet for a long while and I don't know what to say or do. I didn't even want this guy sitting here to begin with.

"So you can talk." He says trying to change the topic and ease the tension in the air.

"Just not to strangers." I say lightly.

He chuckles, a beautiful sound.

"So I'm not a stranger anymore?"

"No... Your just a nice guy going through some tough shit but you'll get through it."

"We all do." I say in a more low serious tone.

"You said I'm a nice guy." He lets out a small smile and I let out a raspy laugh.

"And you said I have nice eyes so 50/50." I reply shrugging my shoulders.

There's a moment of silence and I sigh impatient now.

"How long does it take to make a cheeseburger?" I mutter to myself.

"Your order was called out some time ago."

"You were just in deep thought." He adds looking at me.

I stand up and walk inside and as I do I look back at him for the last time trying to remember this emotional man who sparked an emotional side of me today.

"Thanks." He says in a low voice.

I nod my head and leave.

For the first time in forever I actually felt something for another human being.