Altogether unusual

The fall

'There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart's desire. The other is to gain it.'

George Bernard Shaw

"Clarisse what's going on?"

"Jeremy....I" I cannot say it. I'm crying so hard that he has to pull me in the back and hold me. "I need to go. Now. Please, let me go home!"

"Of course, go home! Do you have anything you need? Will you go to the hotel first?"

"I have everything I need with me. There is no time to lose. Here," I scramble through my bag for the hotel card. "Take this. Will you bring my stuff tomorrow? I need to get to the airport."

I take my bag and cram in everything I would need. I put on my coat and run outside. The taxy takes me to the airport in no time. But my good luck runs out. The only available flight to London is in two hours. And it's full. The girl at the desk got scared by my appearance, all cried out, mascara running down my face. I must look like a maniac. And I am. I would kill for a place in that plane. The girl puts me on a waiting list and all I can do is wait for someone to lose their flight.

I want to pull my hair and scream. I search in my bag, just to have something to do. I have a change of stockings, two pairs of underpants, deodorant, perfume, dry and wet wipes. I also have my wallet, my passport, and the always present pencils and notebook. With the long hours I spend away from home every day, I need to freshen up from time to time, so, believe it or not, I always carry these stuff around. I bite my nails to the flesh and I watch my clock as every minute refuses to pass, taking me close to a nervous breakdown. Everything that has happened lately comes back to me in waves. Will it ever gonna stop? I am surrounded by dominoes and I can't stop thinking that I'll be the last piece to crumble.

Finally the desk girl lets me know that I can have a seat in the plane. I have an idea of me jumping over the desk and kissing her with tongue, but I give up quickly. Having the airport security on my ass cannot help my case. I grab onto the desk tightly though, since my feet give up on me when I hear the good news. I honestly didn't think I have a chance. But now the realisation downs on me: what will I do when I get there? My entire plan was to get here and buy a ticket. Now... Oh, God!

The ticket costs me an arm and a leg, but it doesn't matter. I need to be home. During the flight I go and freshen up a little, change my indispensables and wash my face. I don't know what awaits for me in London, but I am sure I won't have time for this when I get there.

Meanwhile I use my entire willpower not to kill the man sitting next to me. He is chatty and annoying, asking me why I'm dressing like in the medieval times. If I am part of a cult. Really?

"I think you should use clothes and colours better fitted for young people. The new generation has an obsession with black, forgetting it is the colour of poverty and despair. You didn't know that, didn't you? Well, my darling," he puts a hand on my shoulder. The direct contact with my bare skin revolts me. ''I can tell you, reading books would help you a lot. Just try some easy ones at first. And if you ever need a responsible adult, call me, I'll help you." He hands me a business card, which I never take. He lets it fall in my lap. "Such bad parenting." This is the moment I start imagining how I punch him in the nose. Just the thought of him talking about my parents... "I am sure your parents don't care about you if they allow you do all those horrid things on your skin." I still have my corset and nothing to cover up my shoulders. I thank the lucky stars I had my long coat with me and a wool scarf. Come to think of it, I'll use that to cover myself. It will be too warm, but maybe I'll escape this creep touching me. He continues talking. Please earth, open up and swallow me! Or better yet, swallow him! Oh, yeah, I forgot, we're up in the air. "You know, you still have time to get rid of those, if you want. There are ways. People with tattoos don't get to go to heaven, my child. Already your parents are doomed to the eternal fires, but you have no fault in this. God is loving to the innocents like you."