Tonight is like any other. The streets of Hamilton are nearly empty due to the late hour. I sigh as I slide on my fishnets and put my hair in pig tails. “Two minutes until you perform, Chelsea,” says the manager. I know what you’re thinking…I’m not in a band. I’m a stripper. I take a deep breath before I walk out on stage. Some might wonder how I live with myself, don’t worry. I do too.
As the music begins, I swing around the pole a few times before the horny men tell me to take off my clothes. I do as they ask then they cheer and tip me. When it’s over, I rush back to my dressing room. $76, not bad for a nights work. On my way home I pick my son up from his dad’s house. Sure, it’s 3:30 in the morning, but I missed the little monster.
When we get home, I lay in bed with him for a while before I make the phone call.
“Hello. This is Chelsea Lackluster, I have the money,” I say in a business tone. “Yes, midnight tomorrow. At the place we made our deal,” The man on the other line paused briefly between each word scaring me quite a bit.
Tomorrow at midnight, I must confront the man who took almost everything from me, yet I have to pay him 20 grand. The world just doesn’t make sense anymore. The bright side is: after I pay him, my son and I can go far away, I can stop stripping and get a real job, and most importantly we can be safe. I crawl back in bed and hold Cole in my arms. Soon, I drift to sleep with my happy thoughts.
I lounge around all day, counting the money. Midnight comes soon enough so while Cole sleeps, I slip away from the apartment and make my way to the alley off of Cemetery Drive.
There, in the shadows, stands a tall man wearing a black suit and a red fedora. I hand him the money and while he counts it, I stand there in silence. He stops and snarls before slapping me so hard I fall to the ground, cutting my hand on a piece of glass.
The massive amount of blood coming from the gash makes me dizzy. “That’s what you get, you stupid whore! You think you can lie to me?” I honestly have no clue what he’s talking about. “Excuse me?” I stutter as the world whirls around me. “You’re $150 short, bitch!” he spats out then kicks me. I try to think of a way to get out of this mess, but I can’t focus. I think I’m going to die here.
That’s when he pulls out a knife. A sudden burst of adrenaline pumps through my veins. I kick him in his crotch and run.
When I get home, I grab Cole and run to our car as fast as I can. I start the car and drive as fast as the wheels will let us go.
Before I realize it, I drive off a bridge. I kiss Cole’s hand before giving in to the darkness.
