Eyes on Me

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.