Amidst the hurt, betrayal, and downright humiliation of it all, what really hurt me most was that the article spoke the absolute truth…I was a nobody. An imposter moonlighting in a world I didn’t belong. And as much as it pained me to say so, he was better off without me.
CHAPTER 51
HUDSON POV:
I sat shadowed in the dark of my apartment suite. Stern in my refusal to place any lights on for fear of catching my reflection in the mirror, and seeing before me the broken man I’d become.
It was now day seven, exactly one whole week I’d been without her. I hadn’t shaved, had barely eaten, and only took work calls from my new CEO Dirk.
I was stuck somewhere between the region-less bottom pit of hell and heartache, holding and looking in my hands at the pretty bracelet I’d given her, which I’d place beside me every night on the pillow before privately crying myself to sleep. But I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t rest not knowing where she was, or whether she was safe or not. It was making me sick with worry!
Logic told me she’d most likely gone back to living rough again out on the streets, and it ripped at my heart enough the first time when learning of her living conditions, even though I know she was well adept at it.
I just wanted my baby home again, and have her lay beside me in a warm clean bed where she never had to think or worry about anything ever again, because I would look after her.
In the dark still, I sat fighting back the hot tears stinging my eyes as rain outside began to fall, gradually beating heavier and heavier against the window pane, in a deep downpour of despair that miserably matched my dejected mood. I didn’t want to be alone in the apartment anymore, and so grabbing my keys off the side and putting my boots and raincoat on, I headed out the apartment and down to the car park, deciding to have myself a late-night drive in the rain, and hopefully wash a little of the pain away.
The traffic was clear and the city quiet at this hour, as I drove past deserted bus stands and empty office buildings, with the rain continuing to pour heavily outside. And what few people I could see about were all scurrying with their umbrellas, some without, under doorways trying to shelter from the glum weather.
I slowed my car to a gradual stop by my reserved parking spot outside Tazer headquarters, quietly looking up through the heavy rainfall against the window at the red Tazer symbol on top of the building. I smiled a small smile remembering Taylor’s sweet surprised face that day when learning I worked here, ahead of unknowingly tripping over her words when cutely calling me out as a satyriasis.
My face saddened again missing her so much. She wasn't just a lover to me she was my best friend also. A friend who was both smart, funny, talented, and as bonus had it, incredibly sexy too. She had it all, and I’d had it all. And just like that I went and lost it on account of my stupid bad judgment.
I didn’t know when and where I would find her again, but I wouldn’t give up looking that much I did know, not even to my very last breath. And with it if it came to that, I would tell her just how sorry I am for the pain I’d caused her, ahead of telling her what I now wished I had, yet never did on account of nerves always freezing me up, and that was to tell Taylor that I loved her with all my heart.
With a heavy sigh I started up the car again, driving wherever the night took me until I felt tired enough I guess to get me a little sleep.
TAYLOR POV:
‘’Stupid Niagara weather’’ I muttered to myself, my eyes watching glumly through the window waiting on the rain to calm a little. It was day seven at the shelter, and the final day I’d spend here until I was able to gather again what money I needed, so I could spend a few nights more there.
I was miserable to say the least, and just wanted the rain to fucking stop so I could quickly sprint across the road to the store, and get the pack of gummy bear sweets I wanted to enjoy my last night with.
‘’Well fuck you then. I don’t need your stupid cheap weed anyway!’’ screamed the girl in the room next door to mine. I’d been listening to her on-again off again screaming match with her boyfriend almost every night this week. The walls here were paper thin to say the least, and the rooms unfortunately all booked up if I was even thinking of transferring. But really what was the point? There’d only be another loser like myself in the next-door room wherever they’d put me. I sighed now feeling sorry for myself, instead of taking a time out from the chaos that was my thoughts.
‘’…I blew you eight times already this week, so don’t jerk me about with your ‘I owe you nothing’ crap. You owe me eight roll ups mother fucker!’’ continued the screaming girl.
The distraction sometimes of other people’s problems are needed to help settle your own. And so with another glum sigh, I just sat listening as the girl continued to scream and holler back and forth over the phone with her boyfriend.
‘’Ugh, finally’’ I said, noticing the rain outside beating a little less now. And without bothering to even tie my bootlaces, I quickly shoved my feet into them, pulled my hoodie over my head, and sprinted across the road just in time before the store with the gummy bears closed.
‘’Mmm, yum’’ I smiled, instantly ripping into the packet and shoving a handful of my favorite sugary sweets into my mouth. I could see a few passers-by side glancing at me like I was a weirdo or something. And hey, maybe I was, but at that minute I didn’t care, I just wanted to fill my tummy with sweets and have my little moment of happiness.
I needed it also to get my mind focused and ready for tomorrow, which after discovering from a small flyer on the shelters reception bulletin board at the start of the week, decided to attend the advertised open auditions being held for local catalog models, down at a studio on Pike Place above The Farmers Market. They were offering all successful auditionees $50 bucks per five images -guaranteeing a potential cash earning of at least $300 bucks a day. I figured it couldn’t hurt to attend, as I cleaned up not half bad with the right girly materials at my disposal, which according to the article, a professional makeup team would be present to oversee each girls appearance before the photoshoot started.
I was willing to try anything I could so I didn’t have to go back to a life of begging again on the streets. That had been humiliating enough, and now add depressing on top of it after the glamourous way I’d lived my life the last couple of months.
Dong!
Tut, shit…I thought when hearing the bell chime for time from the church nearby, remembering only now that the shelter closed its doors a half hour early on Sunday at 10:00 pm, and I needed them to let me in as keys weren’t exactly provided given the opportunistic advantage people would take.
Dong!
I’m coming, I’m coming…I thought irritably, quickly folding away what was left of my packet of gummie sweets and shoving them into my back pocket, before securing my hoodie over my hair from the rain which had picked up again, as I readied myself to make a quick dash back across the road when it cleared.
Dong!
Dong!