A DIRTY VALENTINE

Chapter 1

Jane walked out of the market frustrated. She had bought very little food and some basic women needs. She had just lost her job. After being in it barely for a week.

Her boss had made a proposition to her

"just once Jane... Just once" he had pleaded. But she didn't give in. She had bluntly refused. And she was unjustly sacked. This world was a mess. Too little people had everything. The real people who needed support where them... The masses. The poor breed that couldn't even afford an extra coat in winter. Or a cold bath in summer. She was barely twenty five. Her life was like an open book. Wide enough for the world to see.

Her husband had caused most of it. He was a memory that she hated but couldnt forget. She could only claim she had forgotten him but she couldn't erase him. She still had the locket he had given her. The ring. His jacket. All his memories were in her head, her home {their home actually}.,and their bed. That bed on which she had never slept on since the night if his passing.

Someone tapped her. "excuse me miss.. You've been standing here for some minutes now..are you okay?" a young, charming man asked.

She turned around before she said

"no... I was just thinking...". The youngan cut her off saying "this is my card. Call me anytime". She just stared and said nothing. His name was George. Before she could mutter a word, he was gone.

Naturally she was charmed. But she just pretended and hurried home. As she reached home, she noticed the sky for a moment. A bit too bright for a country like the United Kingdom. She looked st the card...

George Albert

C.E.O... Friggins.....

Holy smoke.... She thought. So this handsome guy is the owner of Friggins... Like Friggins.... She smiled in delight. She checked herself, realising she was standing outside. She took her little bag and hurried inside.

*****

As she made dinner for her little self that night,she thought of George. But... She hadn't even started working for him. She couldn't start thinking about a man like that. What if he was married? Or was planning to.... Or he had a girlfriend... She slapped herself mentally. Stop it Jane... You are thinking of a man in a bad manner.... She tasted the pot roast. She squeezed her face in disgust. Too much salt. Very little ingredients. Just some potatoes, carrots, onions... And the few others. This was basically what she ate everyday. She had very little money in her savings. And some money she got from washing a few clothes and doing odd jobs. She hadn't had s*x ever since her husband had died. Till today she hadn't come to terms with his death. For her, it had been too fast. How could a man just come home, complain of a headache, then she went out to get a pain relief. And when she came back, he was gone. White eyes. White foam out of his mouth. She had called the police. They investigated for weeks but found out that he had died of poison. They alleged that he poisoned himself.

As she perceived the smell of burning roast, she recollected herself. She turned off the gas and dished some of it on a plate. She took a bite. It tasted divine. But that sharp taste of salt pierced her tongue. But she was hungry. She devoured the roast as lion would a buffalo. She munched and crunched her way through every single ingredients on that plate.

When she was done. She just sat on the sofa. She stared up at the ceiling. She looked at her bank card. If she went to the bank tommorow to make a withdrawal, it might be her last withdrawal. Because she was running low on her funds. She had spent a lot of money on the detectives. Thinking that her husband was murdered. But she discovered that it was just a waste of time. She discovered that it was a waste of time and resources. Her home and a little set of clothes and a few things were her life inheritance. She was left like a wild poppy waiting to be blown away by the wickedness of the world. Like her pastor.. James Morgan. He preached about holiness and the end time from the pulpit of a small Chapel. Just a few steps from the big gym center. The 'paradise'. She had only be there once. She and her husband before he had passed on. Her life was intertwined with his. He had loved her genuinely. And she had reciprocated. Their love had reached a stage. A certain stage that it was too tender to be torn. But a cold hearted death tore it into shreds. She hadn't gotten over the loss. Till date. And she hadn't known any man from that day, some awkward two years ago. Not men didn't really think about her because she had always been quiet about her personal life. No one really knew that her husband had died. Because here in thier Street, everyone wanted to outshine the other. They were all average classed. But they wanted to outdo others. Something that knew never liked. Something that her husband, Martin had never liked. Although he worked as a shopkeeper for a supermarket a few miles away, he made a decent earning. Just enough for their lives. Although they were married for just three years, she felt that he had become a big part of her life. So big that if anyone tries to erase it, he could possibly end her.

As she reminisced about him, she thought ahead. Of her life, of probably adopting kids, or getting married again. But who wanted a poor and helpless woman....that would be dependent? That wasn't in terms with the 21st century. That couldn't.... No one would be... She had to change.... But how.... How could she.... The question stared at her like a mirror... But she needed to.. She needed to.