The Stripper's Firsts

Savior

“Shein!” 

Hearing her best friend’s voice, Hestia looked back and saw her best friend approaching her. Hestia stood up and enveloped her best friend in a big hug, wanting to feel that someone still care about her.

Karla rubbed Hestia’s back as she heard Hestia sobbing in her arms.

It’s been hours since the doctor announces that her mother was already dead. And Hestia is crying non-stop since that scene, she only stops one hour ago because she noticed that her eyes no longer have tears to gush out. But now that her friend, Karla is here, comforting her and making her feel that she’s there for Hestia, tears suddenly fell on her eyes like it got a refill from Karla.

Still has Hestia in her arms, Karla makes the two of them sit in monoblock chairs. Karla just let Hestia cried silently in her arms, for now, that’s the best thing she can do.

The two heard them. Their so-called whispers are loud enough for Karla and Hestia to hear whatever they are talking about. They are talking about them and of course their job. They are saying things that even though right, still can hurt them. People thought that strippers chose that job because they love whatever they are doing, earning large money in a short span of time while pleasuring other people and getting pleasured as well. There may be strippers that are like that but not Hestia neither Karla.

Karla has 5 younger siblings, her father was once a truck driver who got involved in a car accident and now in jail. Her mother was bedridden due to a stroke. Karla is the only one working in their family, she insisted on her younger siblings to go schooling so they'll have a better life. She was a great person, sister, and friend.

Karla and Hestia are both family-oriented so they really are getting along pretty well. When Hestia is still a waitress, Karla is already a stripper there. And when Hestia entered the world of strippers, Karla taught Hestia everything she needs to know. Hestia has always been grateful to her especially now that she now has no one, Karla makes Hestia feel that she’s there and she will not leave her side.

Karla was pissed at those people who’s still not done gossiping about their lives. They were at a freaking funeral of Hestia’s mother but they looked like they didn’t go there to sympathize with the mourners but to gossip about the mourners' lives.

Karla was about to stand up, to confront them but a hand on her lap stopped her. She looked back and saw Hestia shook her head like she’s telling Karla to just let those people because they are not worth their time. Karla wanted to protest but Hestia still doesn't have any plan to let her do that. So she just sighed and sat up straight, staring at the white rectangular box where her friend’s mother is.

For the next 3 days, Karla is the one who assisted the people who visited Sally’s funeral. Hestia was there but she’s not herself. She was just sitting at the monoblock while staring at the white rectangular box. Not saying anything nor crying. She rarely eats and always refused to sleep. She will sometimes just passed out due to exhaustion and Karla will always be there to take care of her. Karla needs to work on the club during Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. She skipped work yesterday, Tuesday because she can’t leave Hestia’s side, her best friend needs her badly. 

The funeral only lasted for 3 days with Karla doing almost everything. Hestia was hopeless while her oh-so-called father didn’t give a damn of at least visiting her wife’s funeral. He’s probably busy, busy chugging down beers or f*****g random girls. It’s not like Karla and Hestia expected something from him. They know that that man who was good at nothing will just f**k around.

Thursday, Sally’s body was already buried on the ground, the people who claimed to be sympathizing with Hestia already left since it’s been hours since the body was buried. It was already past 6:00. It’s now starting to get dark and the wind is slightly getting chilly for their liking.

“Shein it’s starting to get dark. I think we should head back now.”

Hestia looked back at her friend from staring at her mother’s gravestone while hugging her mother’s picture with her left hand and tracing her mother’s name with her right hand.

“I want to stay for a few more minutes. You can go first.”

“Then I’ll just wait for you so we can leave together.”

Hestia shook her head, not agreeing to her best friend’s decision.

“No Karla. You still have to go to the club. You can’t ditch today too, you already ditched Tuesday. The manager will probably get mad if you didn’t show up and also you have a family to support. Don’t worry about me. I can take  care of myself.”

“But Shein-”

Hestia put down her mother’s picture on her lap to get a hold of Karla’s hands and stared at her eyes directly, slightly squeezing them. 

“Karla I told you, I’m okay. I can take care of myself. For the past few days, you kept taking care of me and doing things I should be the one doing. You already did enough. Come on, stop being hard-headed and go now.”

Karla sighed surrendering to the idea and squeezed back Hestia’s hands while staring at her friend worriedly.

“Okay, but don’t stay here for too long and when you got home, call me. Okay?”

Hestia giggled at her friend but the giggle was not as bright as Hestia used to do.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Hestia jokingly said. Karla just tousled her hair and stood up.

After a few more reminders, Karla finally bid her goodbye and started walking away from Hestia.

Hestia can only stare at her best friend’s back until the girl was no longer visible in her eyes.

Hestia finally looked back at her mother’s gravestone, again tracing her mother’s name while hugging her mother’s picture with her left hand.

It’s only 4 days but I miss you already Mama. I seriously don’t know what to do next after this. I don’t have any reason to continue working at the club. No- I actually don’t have any reason to live. You’re the only reason why I kept fighting and living, why I kept working, why I endured all the pain, those words that people thought I didn’t hear, those judgmental stares, and those moments that I lost my respect for myself.

Hestia felt her tears again, streaming down her face and falling on the picture frame. Hestia didn’t bother to wipe her tears or cover her mouth so her sobs won’t be too loud. She was pretty sure that no one was still around that can see her crying or hear her sobs.

She lied about staying only for only a couple of minutes. She stayed there until past 9:00. Until her lower limbs are already aching from all the sitting that she has done for hours. She actually doesn’t have any plan to leave yet if only Karla will stop calling her phone. She didn’t answer any call from Karla and just sent her a text that she was already at home. Karla didn’t reply, she probably is performing and knowing Karla, she will call Hestia as soon as she read the text. So Hestia doesn't have any choice but to stand up and start walking towards her home.

Her home was actually far from wherever she is, it will probably take her 30 minutes before she arrives at their apartment. Considering her state now, it will probably take her 1 hour or more. Hestia is already exhausted but she’s in the mood for a walk, because she personally doesn’t want to go home since when she surely got there what she will only do is cry until she gets tired and fall asleep.

When Karla calls again, Hestia planned to just ignore her and pretend that she’s already sleeping. Then when she got home, she will answer the call and just pretend that she just got awaken.

The moon, together with the stars are providing light for people like Hestia, walking towards their home.

Hestia was quiet. She’s still hugging her mother’s picture and walking in slow and small steps. Hestia, for an unknown reason, glanced at her right side and caught a glimpse of a bridge. Hestia remembered what this bridge is, she doesn’t remember the name but she’s pretty aware of the purpose of this bridge for people. This bridge was used by multiple people already to end their lives because the possibility to get out of death is small. The river beneath is deep and dirty, making it impossible for people to escape alive the river or for other people to save them. This bridge was also used by murderers to get rid of the victims’ bodies. The bridge and the deep dirty river are a perfect combination for someone who wants to take their own life.

No longer have control over her body and mind, Hestia walked towards the bridge and looked down at the bridge. The light that the moon and stars provided is not enough for Hestia to saw the river. But Hestia can guess that the river has different unwanted things floating there freely like they own the river.

Hestia glanced at her mother’s picture, smiling sadly while grazing her fingers at the glass.

“Mama I know you miss me too just like how I miss you. I hope you forgive me for doing this but I really don’t know how can I live this life if you’re no longer here. You’re the only reason why I continue living in this world and now that you’re no longer here, I don’t find any more reason to live. Mama, we’ll see each other soon. It will only be quick. Mama, I love you.”

Hestia kissed her mother’s smiling picture then wiped her tears and put down her mother’s picture on the bridge’s cemented railings. Hestia would no way take her mother’s picture down that hell. For Hestia, her mother is the most precious person that’s ever been alive and she doesn’t deserve to get her picture to get a taste of the dirty river. She believes that what her mother deserves is the world, which she failed to give.

Hestia climbed and stood at the bridge’s cemented railing, looking down at the river that’s impossible for her to catch a glimpse. With one last look on her mother’s picture, one last smile, and one last tear that she wiped, Hestia closed her eyes then opened her arms wide. After calling her mother once again, Hestia readied herself as she plans to let her body fell on the river, but that didn’t happen because a hand encircled her waist and pulled her in the opposite direction.

Instead of falling into the cold, deep, and dirty river, she fell on a hard road with the one who saved her.

Hestia groaned as she felt her elbow grazed at the road and probably scraped her skin. She opened her eyes and glared at the one who saves her, it was a guy. He was a fine young man.

“Why did you save me?”

Hestia half-shouted yelled at the guy.

The guy didn’t even look like he was offended at Hestia’s rude behavior after him saving her. He has that soft look on his face and what’s weird is, he’s crying.