Lurking In The Moonlight

Chapter Eleven: Broken Down And Built Back Up

I sat in my office, smiling to myself as I worked on next month's activity schedule for the children. They actually gave my department some of the funding the Wayne family gave us, in order to make up the cost of the event. I was shocked farther when they gave me an extra $500 a month for funding. I was never happier, being able to give the children more toys and art supplies to help entertain themselves with. I even went the mile and ordered several subscriptions of magazines targeted at children. 

It had been two wonderful weeks since Arthur and I had kissed at the hospital event. Everything was going great between us. Every minute I didn't focus on work was focused on Arthur. Arthur would meet me after I got off work, we'd walk home together, laughing and enjoying each other's company along the way, before we made it back to my apartment to spend some alone time together before heading up to Arthur's for dinner and to watch TV, staying up until the Murray show, dancing whenever the music segments came on. He'd twirl me around the apartment, careful not to wake his mother up.

Arthur made me happy and, for the first time in my life, everything seemed to be going just right.

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I checked my watch again, it was almost 6 o'clock. I sat patiently, continuing to wait for Arthur to come and walk me home. I got off at 5. I didn't want to stay here any longer by myself, so I decided to make my long journey home by myself. I just hoped Arthur was okay. He told me about the recent job he was doing at a record store that was going out of business. He'd been there all week, even bought me a few new records for my collection. 

When I finally made it back to our apartment, I went straight to Arthur's, to check on him and his mother. I knocked for several minutes, only to get no response. I turned away, deciding Arthur wasn't home, when the door opened revealing Arthur's mother, Penny.

"Happy, did you lock yourself-. Oh, you're not Happy." I smiled at her, Happy was such a cute nickname for Arthur. 

"No, it's Sandra, Arthur's girlfriend." I said, turning my full attention back to her. We meet a few times, surely she remembers me by now. 

"Yes, the girl who takes such good care of my Happy." She smiled and shuffled back into the dimly light apartment. "Happy hasn't come home yet." Was all she said before going to sit down on the lounge chair, giving her focus to the lights of the magic box.

I followed her in, shutting the door and taking off my backpack and my dark green hoodie, one that Arthur made me invest in last week. "Have you eaten anything today, Ms. Fleck?" Knowing the answer before the question even came out. 

"I haven't been hungry." Was all she said, eyes in a dreamlike state, glued to the TV. I smiled, helping myself to their fridge, seeing enough to make the both of us a nice turkey sandwich with mayo. I got to work on the food, as Penny zoned out in the living room. Once I finished and plated them, I took both, handing one to Penny, who was shocked that I feed her.

"Please eat. It makes him worry when you don't" I smiled at her as she took the plate from me. 

"I wouldn't want Happy to worry." We slowly ate in silence, staring at the TV News program Penny watched.

Another hour passed and Penny went to bed for the evening, I started to pace the floor of their apartment, wondering where the hell Arthur was. I was on my third cigarette when I heard the clicks of the locks being undone from the front door, and Arthur stepped into the apartment. He looked so tired as I watched him limp inside, tossing his keys down. 

"My god, where have you been?" I asked, put out the last cigarette before rushing over to him and pulling him into a tight hug. He groaned in pain and shifted under my embrace. I pulled back immediately, taking in Arthur's face. He had a bit of blood coming down from his forehead. "Oh my god, what happened?"