bridges [h.s.]

𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕠𝕟𝕖

April 2015

The sky is dark and gloomy. The darkest shade of black I've ever seen. It's my favorite kind of night.

The city is loud and moving nonstop. I love San Francisco. It's so different from how it was when I was a child.

"C'mon!" Heather slaps my shoulder and starts to run away from me.

Heather Morgan is my best friend and adoptive sister.

After the accident, I was put into the system. The Morgan's adopted me after they could no longer conceive children. They wanted to give Heather a little sister.

I am a year younger than her and the whole situation was like a gift. Heather became my best friend.

After high school, we both moved out of the suburbs and into an apartment near the university.

"Wait up!" I chase after her. Soon, we get in line for Redlight, the brand new club in the city.

We both thought it would be fitting to try it out on my 21st birthday.

"I heard the owner is hot," Heather exclaims.

"That's nice, Heather. Maybe this one will give you the attention you want!" I say in exact same tone as her, but with a straight face.

She has a shocked look on her face before breaking out into a smile.

Both of us turn into a fit of giggles. I didn't mean what I said, and she knows it. That's just always how our relationship has been, jokes.

I smoothed out my green satin dress before it was finally our turn to enter the club.

"I.D. please," the large and intimidating bouncer with the name, Sal, says loudly.

I pull out my I.D. and hand it to the big, scary man. Heather does the same. Sal inspects each one before letting us pass through.

"Welcome to Redlight," Sal announces before stepping aside to let us both in.

I noticed immediately the smell of sex and alcohol. A personal favorite scent of mine.

The lights are flashing red and white, and the floor this tiled with more red lights that flash.

The entire room is giving me a headache. I love it.

"Let's get a drink!" Heather tries to tell over the music.

We arrive at the bar and take notice of the bartender. He's tall and has sleeves covered in tattoos. His light brown hair complement his strong build. I was too busy staring at him to notice he arrived in front of us.

"What can I get you ladies?" a deep, british accent asks us.

"Two rounds of vodka and two whiskey sours," Heather announces confidently. I can do a lot, but I cannot order anything for shit.

"Coming right up, beautiful!" the bartender winks before turning away to make the drinks.

"He's hot!" I shout over the music. "You should go for it!"

"And leave you alone on your birthday? No thank you!" She yells back.

I quickly smile before the bartender returns with our drinks.

"Here you go, darling," he smiles. He has really nice teeth.

Stop. That's weird.

I look over at Heather's face. She looks like she wants to spend time at the bar, and not for the drinks.

"What's your name?" I decide to ask him.