HIM
I made sure the red lipstick outlined every part of my lips
The girls stared as I walked past and honestly I couldn’t care less I had only one goal and that was my sister
Everywhere was bustling and you could hear laughter and might I add moans from every corner but nothing overpowered the music
I held the pole like it was my aid staring into the hungry eyes of each of this men
Disgusting
I circled the pole slowly and arched my back downwards before looking back up
I could hear the whistles and hollering
I lifted myself unto the pole working in sync with the music
Do this people ever wonder why we took on this jobs, that we have lives after this
I hated being looked at this way, treated like I was trash but it was the life I had to live
And on cue I landed with a split to the ground
I watched this man walk up to me, he had on the most disgusting predatory look
“ I want you”
He said looking me straight in the eyes and then inserting dollar bills into my bra
My eyes were cold and devoid of emotion but I never let that smile off my face
“Thanks” I whispered sultry
I walked off the stage and didn’t look back.
But as I pushed through the velvet curtains. I felt it
A gaze heavier than the rest. I glanced over my shoulder
Back corner.
Dark suit. He wasn’t cheering or smiling
Just watching.
I let the curtain fall.
Backstage the music was muffled, the mirror lights buzzed too hard..I just knew I had an incoming headache
I pulled the bills from my bra, a handful of ones and a single crisp hundred
I sighed
At least this was enough for this week’s medications. Barely
I didn’t look myself in the mirror for too long cause I didn’t like how I looked
My phone lit up, it was a text from Amara
My neighbor who I had asked to watch Milly
“She asked for you. I told her you were working late at the diner”
The diner. Right.
I pressed my lips together tasting the cheap lipstick
Milly was eight, she thought I was a waitress and I intend on keeping in that way.
I changed into a jeans and a washed hoodie, scrubbed my face clean and slipped out the back exit into the alley
The cold air hit me then the headlights
I hissed sharply
This f*****g lights are pissing me off
A black car was idled by the dumpster. Too clean for the street
It was known around here that you don’t pay attention to cars in the alley
I kept walking and didn’t even plan to look back but I knew one thing I felt that same piercing gaze on me.
