Just In One Night .

Chapter Four

(Hailey's P.O.V.)

"Wait... So you're telling me..." Stacey pauses in bewilderment, "... that you, Hailey Donovan, lost your v- card to a complete stranger, last night? HOW, WHY, WHEN?"

My friends and I sat in the cafe that Dalia works in. It was her lunch break, and I felt like seeing them all after going home and helping my mother out. If this was 3 years ago, I would be in church by now; it was 12 PM, on a Sunday. Yes, my mom was one of those; a very faithful Christian. I on the other hand.... Let's just say I was still finding my way. Right now, religion is the least of my worries. I just want to empty my mind, by talking to my girls on the happenings of Friday and Saturday.

Stacey and Jenny had a similar expression; one of utter shock. Dalia on the other hand, she wore a look of sympathy. She knew of my principle; I wanted to save my v-card for someone I loved.

"So what are you going to do now?" Jenny asks me, her forehead crinkled in wonder.

"Nothing." I reply, shrugging my shoulders.

I genuinely wasn't planning on doing anything, except praying to never meet the guy, ever in my life again. I wouldn't be able to handle the embarrassment of everything and anything I did while I was heavily drunk. Neither would I be able to handle the information that I saw the guy I gave my virginity to in a drunken haze. Only the Lord knows how sloppy my skills must have been while I was half minded, if any had remained at the time at all.

"But what if you come across him again?" This time, it is Dalia questioning me, voicing what has just crossed my mind.

"I hope I never do."

The girls ook at me in disbelief,as if I have just said that the sky is neon green.l am confused, have I said something wrong? The way they are looking at me has me feeling like there's something on my face or something.

"What?" I say feeling extra uncomfortable. "What are y'all looking at me like that?"

"Do you have any idea on how big New York is?" Says Stacy.

Great. Somehow she had just rained on my parade by stepping on my hopes of never seeing mystery hot guy in my life ever again. Feeling too tired to respond, I merely look at her with a blank Expression. I had too much on my mind to protest. For one, I hadn't gotten any calls from the doctor, on whether I could pay for the treatment of my father through installments. I have too many burdens on my shoulder, and I'm not about to add someone who doesn't even know my name to the list.

"Well. I guess I'll just have to pray and hope harder." I say quietly to the girls.

They all wore a similar expression of sympathy, knowing fully well that I was drained of all form of energy; be it physical, mental, or emotional. I'm at a point where I barely display anything except blankness on my face, and indifference in attitude. Maybe I just needed a change of environment, but I couldn't afford to go on a mini vacation just yet. I had to go from home the first few months, then maybe I could get my own place in the city when my pay gets stable. The salary was very attractive; one thousand four-hundred and forty six dollars an hour, and I was paid monthly. I could get a nice crib in a few months, then finally pay for my father's treatment and medications.

My eyes get lost in the evening sky, watching it as the sun gets lower behind the buildings, giving it a very light yellowish orange color. An unexplainably intense urge to have the best wind blow on my curly dark brown hair sets in, making me long for the better times. I go down the memory lane; a specific one stuck on replay on my mind, one where my dad was still okay, and we were way more comfortable. The wind blew through my hair in that piece of memory, like a scene from a movie cut into a filmstrip. I was 7, in our car that we had sold a year ago to pay for my dad's treatment.

The sky had the same shade as now; very light yellowish orange, giving way to pink as we drove full speed through beautiful roads, with Meadows on the sides. I can't remember where we were going to; I was too young to recall. All that remained on my mind was the voice of Lewis Armstrong and Elvis Presley, their voices and songs filling the car, my mother and father's laughter and talks, and finally the long lost feeling of happiness. I tear escaped my eye, slipping down my cheek, and racing all the way down to my jaw before falling to the table.

I miss the old times too much sometimes, that I fear I might cry too much. I quickly dry my tears, hoping they hadn't seen it, but Dalia, my beautiful Indian best friend was too sharp not to notice. But as usual, not wanting to make me uncomfortable, she just mouths "are you okay". Feeling greatful that she understands my need not to be noticed emotionally, I reply her with a nod and a small smile. My phone rings, and flipping it out, I see that it's my mother calling me. The feeling of cold fear washes over me in an instant; had dad any of those sudden pain attack on any part of his body again? Sensing my drastic change in mood as my phone rang, the girls immediately keep quiet. Crossing my fingers and saying a silent prayer, I pick up the call.

"Hello mo-"

"Hailey, rush down home! It's happening again! I have tried everything I could, but it's not working!" My mother's fearful sobs fill my ears.

Cold sweat forms on my skin, as I jump up and get my bag.

"Just relax mom, I'm on my way. Meanwhile, you look for a way to get some money for a new syringe."

My heart beats crazily in my chest, accelerating by second. My mind gets blank, only one thought blaring an alarm repeating over and over in my brain; I needed to get home as fast as possible.

"Hailey, wait!" Jenny calls running down to me, and giving me some dollar bills.

Tears spring to my eyes, I am unable to protest or speak.

"Thank you" I whisper amidst tears while hugging her.

"Tell me about it when it's over, please." She whispers back, before I break away and continue running to the bus stop.

I didn't understand why God disliked us so much, what did we do to deserve all of this? My dad is a wonderful man, I just didn't understand why he was being punished like this. He hadn't offended anyone as far as I knew, neither had he ever said anything wrong to anyone. Life just punishes those that are good, and blesses the wicked ones. It had a very funny way of making one stronger.