A Rose In The Dark

I

  I sigh as the women in front of me mumbles while looking for something inside her purse. My head aches as the sounds of children's screams and cries reaches my ears. I take my eyes off the lady and look around me. Children running and desperate parents everywhere. A smell fills my nostrils; sweat, dirty socks and plastic. A smell that I never get use to after months of working here. KIDZWORLD: WHERE YOUR CHILDHOOD DREAMS COME TRUE. More like where your adult nightmares come true. 

  I look back to lady, and then behind her. I can see the faces of many angry parents waiting for their turn. I wonder if any will speak up today against her? No, they'll probably just stay quiet and leave a bad review. Like it's the place's fault. 

  "This is ridiculous!" she finally says, her focus on me now. Her eyes are glossy and there's a vein popping out on her forehead. I've been here long enough to know those are the signs that she's about to make a scene. "I have been a customer in this place for years! And no one ever has not accepted my coupons!" 

  I put on a fake smile, remembering what my boss always says; a kind smile and a calm voice is what makes our customers happy!  I grab the coupons and gently point her to where the expiration dates are. 

  "But you see ma'am, these coupons already expire. You can't use them anymore" the lady snatches the pieces of paper from my hand and throws them to my face. 

  "This is nonsense! I want to speak with a higher authority!" once again, I fake a smile. 

  I grab the phone next to the register and dial my manager's number. My insides are burning with anger. I want to teach this old person some respect. After a few seconds Marley, my manager, picks up. I explain the situation to him and with an annoyed sigh he tells me he'll be there in a moment and hangs up. I put the phone down and look at the women, her face is red by now. Her arms are crossed in front of her chest and she's tapping her foot on the wooden floor. 

  "My manager will be here in a moment. In the meanwhile, could you step aside so I can help the other customers, please" the lady laughs sarcastically. 

  "You must think I'm a fool! I wont be leaving my spot until your manager comes here to do your job!" I hear some grunts and complains from the people behind her, but no one speaks up. Thankfully I see Marley approaching. He takes my place behind the counter and widely smiles at her. 

  "Hello ma'am. What's seems to be the problem today?" the woman looks at me with hate before speaking. Her attitude makes me wanna punch her. 

  "This child here won't let me use my coupons!" Marley grabs some of the coupons and examines them. 

  "I see. Well these coupons are expire ma'am, two weeks ago" her face starts to turn even more red. I wouldn't be surprise if smoking starts coming out of her.

  "This is so disrespectful and rude! I came here today with the hope of buying my baby some clothes and this is what I get" I look down to her baby. A chubby boy sitting in a scroller that looks very small for him. He looks around six or seven years old. His hands and mouth are cover in chocolate but that doesn't stop him from grabbing tight his mother's white phone. He's completely unaware of her mother's screams thanks to the big headphones covering his ears. He feels my gaze and looks up to me. I smile at him. He gives me the middle finger. 

  "I know you feel upset ma'am, but these are expire" Marley tries again.

  "This is crazy! Just because they are two weeks old doesn't mean they can't work" she argues back. 

  "That is exactly what it means, ma'am" the women grabs the clothes from the counter and throws them to the floor. She grabs the stroller and struggles to leave while dropping everything she can and yelling at the store staff. I have to say I'm relieve she's gone. I smile again and call the next customer. Another fancy looking woman walks towards me. She comes with three kids fighting among them, but she does nothing to stop them. Before I can even greet her, she throws a bag on the counter. 

  "I came to return these shirts" I open the bag to take a look at the clothing, until I notice something.

  "Um, ma'am, these shirts are dirty and some are even ripped" she rolls her eyes.

  "I want my money back. I have my receipt and I know my rights!" Marley and I look at each other before he smiles and starts dealing with her. This was going to be a long day. 

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o     

  As I park my car in front of my parents house, my back and neck start to hurt. The stress from today is making its way down my body. I get out and decide to sit in the bench that's in the front porch. I start massaging my neck feeling somewhat relieve. The silence finally hugs me, and the darkness of the night makes me calm. I close my eyes, enjoying the moment. But my time alone is interrupted when the front door is suddenly open. 

  "Why are you outside?" my mom peeks out. I smile at her and get up. 

  "I was just thinking" the moment I cross the door my head aches again. It begs me for a moment to rest. My dad is the living room watching TV as loud as he could. Upstairs I can hear the twins fighting and things being thrown. Our little but loud dog barks at something in the window. "Hi dad!" I say out loud. Big mistake, throat complains from talking all day. I walk to the kitchen with my mom following behind. I grab a glass of water. 

  "I'm going grocery shopping tomorrow" I nod and reach out to my purse pulling my wallet out. I give her a one hundred dollar bill. She takes it and leaves. Living with my parents had the benefit of me not paying rent or bills. The only conditions is that I do the cleaning of my own room, I do my laundry and I pay for groceries. Fair enough. Only that they didn't know that what I gave them every time was the last of my paycheck. 

  I start making my way to my room until I stop in front of the twins' room. I hear no more fighting, only music. I keep walking. I'm not in very good terms with them right now. The reason is that they want me to move out already. When I decided to go to college, I knew I wanted to leave the state. I wanted to meet new places and people. And I did, I left. My mother gave Theo, the oldest twin, my room. Everyone was happy, until I messed up and came back home after finishing college. They gave me my room back, but the twins who have been sharing room all their life and now being teenagers, didn't take it so well. 

  After a quick shower I'm finally able to rest but my phone ringing holds my plan. I pick it up and answer.

  "Hello"

  "Hi Harmony!" the sweet voice of my high school friend Lana sounds through the speaker.

  "Hi Lana, how are you?' I hold my phone between my chin and my shoulder so I can start undoing my bed. 

  "I'm doing great! A little nervous about the big day" Lana was going to get marry in three weeks. Unlike me, Lana had her life sort out. She graduated college and came back to town with a job and boyfriend waiting for her. 

  "I bet you are" she giggles.

  "I'm calling you because my bachelorette party is on Friday. Mare planned everything already, we're going to a club in the city" I let a silent sigh. The city was expensive. Clubs and drinks were expensive. Gas was expensive. "We're meeting at my house around nine pm and then a driver will pick us up and bring us back later."

  "Great!" I say with fake excitement "I'll be there on time." 

  "This is going to be so much fun! It's been a while since you went out with us"  I playfully roll my eyes. 

  "I know. I miss you girls already" I hear her giggle again. 

  "I know you're stress but I swear we're never going to forget this night" I smile feeling cheer up. 

  "I love that idea. I gotta go, I'm falling asleep" I yawn. 

  "Okay darlin'. See you Friday, love you."

  "Love you too" I hung up and lay on my bed. On Friday my shift ended later since Marley let me put a few extra hours. It wasn't going to give me a lot of time to get ready. I winced as I feel my head pound, a sign of me overthinking. It's best for me to go to sleep and dream of a different life, like I do every night until I fall asleep. 

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o   

  Friday arrives with a new me. It has been a while since a did a full makeup look on my face or wear something nice. Even though I broke a few speeding limits to arrive home with enough time to get ready, it was worth it. I feel hot. As I look in the mirror I recognize the old me. Getting ready to go party with my college friends. Oh how I miss those times. 

  I arrived at Lana's house. My friends are excited to see me, we start catching up on our lives. Then realization hits me. All of them were successful. They have jobs they love, their own apartments, they're in a relationship or traveling. My mood drops. I had nothing to share. 

  The driver finally arrives and we go to the city. I hide my mood change. This wasn't about me. The car trip is full of singing and laughing until we arrived to the club. Mare was able to get us into the VIP section thanks to people she knows. A sting of jealousy appears at the thought, but I shove it away, 

  When it's time to order drinks I decide to go with the cheapest thing hoping my friends wouldn't notice. They're all having fun while I sit down watching them. I want to be there, but a dumb voice in my head keeps telling me I'm not allowed to have fun because I have the morning shift tomorrow. 

  "You look like we brought you here by forced" I jump at the sudden voice. I was so lost in my head that I didn't saw my friend Adele sit beside me. 

  "Just ignore me" I laugh. 

  "What is it?" she ask.

  "Work stress" she nods knowing that was all she was getting from me. 

  "But isn't the reason why we came here was to forget for one night and have fun? I mean yeah, it's Lana's night. But it's also our night. We barely see each other these days" she takes a sip from her drink. "Not everything is about work and problems. This is a one night thing, worries are forever. So just enjoy yourself one day, and tomorrow we keep whining" I think about her words for a moment. 

  "You know what" I stand up. "You're right. Let's go get some shots, my treat!"

  Once we order the first round, we can't stop. My card was going to feel that tomorrow but who cares. It's a one night thing. I can feel the alcohol making me dizzy. The more I dance, the more I loose myself to the night. After a while I decide to go to the patio to get some air. I walk and sit down on a chair admiring the view in front of me. The city rises beautifully. I always wanted to live in the city. My thoughts are interrupted by an angry and handsome stranger talking on the phone. 

  "Sabes que odio las mentiras" he says. And thanks to my Spanish classes in college I could understand something about him not liking lies.        

   The person on the other line says a something else and then the stranger hangs up. He grunts to himself before shoving his phone on the back pocket of his pants. I admire him. His clothes and even his watch scream luxury. He has a very dark short hair and a beautiful sharp jaw that makes contrast with his brown skin. I'm so focus on him that I can't stop the words coming from my mouth.

  "Seems like there's a problem in paradise" I say out loud. Too loud. The stranger hears me even with the loud music coming from inside. Our eyes meet, but the intensity of his gaze is too much for me to handle so I look away feeling my cheeks burn. 

  "Entiendes Español gringa?" he ask if I can understand him. I nod still looking away. 

  "Just a little bit" I say. He laughs.

  "Well, it still doesn't make it okay for you to get into my business" I curse at the alcohol inside me. I feel embarrassed and dumb.  

  "Sorry" I mumble. From the corner of my eye I see him coming closer until he's standing in front of me. 

  "What's your name?" I look at him surprised, not expecting that question. 

  "I'm Harmony" he smiles at me and my heart starts pounding. The situation feels unreal, like a dream. "What's yours?" 

  "I'm Tízoc" my eyes widen at the strange name. He smirks at me. "I know. Weird name." 

  "Does it mean something?" 

  "Tízoc was an Aztec emperor. The name means the one who bleeds, the one who sacrifices." I let a low wow. 

  "Interesting name. Your parents sure wanted you to stand out" he laughs again making me smile this time. 

  "Well they did expected a lot from me. Can I offer you a drink?" I nod. Tízoc turns around looking for something. Until his eyes land on someone. A guy not far from us, dressed in all black, is leaning against a wall watching us. He starts making his way towards. "Danilo, can you bring me a tequila and for the lady?" 

  "A margarita , please" I smile at the guy. He looks even more intimidating than Tízoc. Even more muscular. The slaves of his shirt are rolled up allowing me to see his arms all cover in tattoos. Danilo nods and leaves. "Is he your friend?" Tízoc looks at me with a frown. 

  "Would a friend be that stiff and allows me to order him things?" 

  "Maybe he's a good friend" I shrug.

  "He's my bodyguard" he answers like it's something normal. I gasp. 

  "What are you, a drug dealer?" I laugh. But by the look in Tízoc's face he doesn't find it that funny. 

  "Just because I'm Mexican you think I'm a drug dealer?" his expression turns dark. I stop laughing and clear my throat. 

  "No! I was just kidding" I feel awkward and avoid his gaze. I screw up my opportunity with him. If I had any. 

  "It's okay" he suddenly smiles. "I'm just messing with you. I hear that very often" before I can say anything else, Danilo appears again with our drinks. Tízoc grabs them and hands me mine.

  "Thanks!" I say looking at Danilo. He just nods and leaves not saying a thing. "So, what you do for living?" I try to keep a conversation not wanting this to turn into a silence. Also not wanting him to leave. 

  "I'm in the trade business" he take a sip of his drink. "Well, my sister is. I'm just a board member that likes to sit in meetings looking pretty and agreeing to everything she says" I laugh. 

  "Must be nice. Making money by barely moving a finger" 

  "I can't complain" he shrugs. 

  "And what kind of trade?" 

  "Mostly fruits and vegetables from Mexico. Also some Sand, gravel, fabrics and wood. And some alcohol beverages" I nod not really caring but pretending to keep his attention on me. I focus my eyes on the drink I'm holding. I hear him sit down besides me. "Would you, like to, get out of here?" I look back at him feeling very hot suddenly thanks to the amount of alcohol I've been drinking all night. 

  "Yes, please" I mumble before getting the courage to crash my lips onto his.   

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o        

  I go and tell my friends about my change of plans. It's hard at the beginning to convince them of letting me go. At the end they agree under the condition to share my location in our group chat and text them tomorrow. Tízoc and I hold hands all the way to his expensive car. We climb to the back seat and make out while Danilo drives us to Tízoc's apartment. 

  Once we're there the get out without saying a word to Danilo, who seems to not care at all, and make our way to the building giggling all the way up to. In his room, clothes and lights go off, as the best night of my life starts. 

  Tízoc makes me feel worth it and beautiful. Like I deserve everything. He treats me right. For just one night I forget it all. I'm not Harmony, the girl who's broke and a failure. Tonight I'm the version of myself I've always dreamt of. As we reach another high, Tízoc's sweet words comfort me. He pulls out after what appears to be hours. Our bodies are sweaty, but we hold onto each other without caring. My vision feels heavy, but I feel amazing. My eyes give up on me while I hear Tizoc's soft snores. 

  I have no regrets. 

  But I can't ignore the feeling that warns me that something bad is going to happen.