Enchanted

43

Stupid

Stupid

Stupid

I wiped my cheeks with my bare arms, only then noticing the chill in the air. It was any wonder I could walk at all: every part of me felt shaken. Seeing Adonis after so long was an earthquake that threatened to destroy the feeble life I'd started building for myself.

Mrs Zhang stared at me when I re-entered the restaurant but mercifully, she didn't yell at me. I wasn't sure whether I'd be able to function if she had to add any more weight to the worlds at my shoulders. Mia and Keesha - the names of the waitresses I worked with - sent worried glances at me all day but I ignored them, not bothering to pretend I was anything but unsteady.

Unsteady.

Unsteady.

The customers' faces and orders blended into each other. I got more than a few orders wrong until Mrs Zhang forcibly dragged me to her office.

"What wrong with you?" she barked.

I really wanted to cry, to bawl my eyes out, to let out this giant ache that had been pressing against my lungs since I saw his baby blues. But I couldn't. I'd sworn never to cry over him again. I'd been doing so well. I finally started eating again, I finally started visiting Holly again and for fuck's sake today was my first day not wearing that stupid bracelet.

The irony was not lost on me.

He had been MIA when I'd clung to that bracelet, my soul in anguish. The day I chose to give up, he decided to swoop back in.

"Rosa, you talk or you no come back. Why you so distracted?"

I shook my head, trying and failing to empty my head of all thoughts of him.

"I'm sorry, it won't happen again."

She just stared at me, her beady gaze unyielding. I ignored the urge to cringe or look away.

"Go home. Come double shift tomorrow."

I opened my mouth to argue but she was already walking away. I knew better than to call her back. I dug out my phone and texted Mia.

Rosa: She's making me go home. Please cover my tables, will make it up to you.

We weren't exactly friends but the three of us had a certain understanding. When one was sick or unavailable to work, we covered up for her in exchange for the same favour. This was the first time I was calling in a favour.

I grabbed my purse and coat and entered the thick crowd.

Meander Street had most of its visitors during the day. Once upon a time, according to Mrs Zhang, the night life here used to be spectacular. Bars stayed open way past midnight, seedy pubs and strip clubs raked in tons of cash a night. Way back when, before everyone flocked downtown and the gangs set in, Meander Street was every youth's go to.

I couldn't imagine it. These days, most places were closed by seven, the rest well before then. Mrs Zhang's restaurant was one of the few businesses that risked staying open all night. In the months I'd been working there, we hadn't gotten caught up in a turf war. There were the occasional gunshots but the gangs stayed away. I had a feeling even they were terrified of my boss.

Seeing as I had all day free and I wasn't willing to sit in my motel room all by myself, I decided to go visit Holly.

I'd lied to Adonis.

Or maybe not entirely.

Holly had gotten better.

So much better.