Aurora
If I had a dollar from every drunk idiot who thought flirting was a tip, I'd quit this job.
"How much money did we make from sales tonight?" I packed beer bottles and glass cups into empty crates.
"Be patient, Rory... 100... 120... 150..." Celine counted at a slow pace over the clattering sound of glasses.
Today was just... fucked up.
I've worked at the Whales club for a year and still counting, yet tonight's shift taught me patience.
Every customer walked in on a mission to test my sanity with their drink tantrums.
"Oh, sorry, it's too weak..."
"Excuse me, it's too strong for me."
"You messed up my drink—it's too fruity."
"No, actually it's not fruity enough."
All coming from a bunch of Botox-faced girls demanding free drinks.
Plus, those men with an agenda: to blow whistles at you, get touchy, and tell dumb jokes.
"We've got four thousand nine hundred zlotys tonight!" Celine grinned, smacking the cash on the counter.
"Tonight wasn't terrible after all," she added, handing me my cut.
"Says the hottie who got wallets as tips while I cleaned vomit and wiped blood off the bathroom floor." shoving the cash in my jean's back pocket.
"Touche," she flashed puppy eyes. "You're the one who taught me how to make drinks, remember?"
" That's because your manager added 'cleaner' to my job description."
" He's your manager too, you know." She leaned across the copper bar top, handing my leather jacket.
My lips curved, almost reaching my eyes.
" When did you get that? " Her eyes hovered over my wrist revealing a fading scar.
I placed my hand over my wrist.
" Broken glass," my smile tight."I'm already late, can't avoid my mother finding out about this nightlife." I slid my hand into the jacket.
" You can't keep working here, Rory." She bit her lower lip, crossing her arms.
If only she knew the real story.
" Good night, get home safe." I winked, patting her shoulder.
If I ever had the chance to choose a sister in my next life, I'd pick Celine.
She's a bubble of chaos, charm, and a lot of unpredictable emotions—and I love her for it.
I closed the door; greeted by the chilling air and drunk people by the sidewalk. I walked further to the highway until it became eerily quiet.
While in the fog, the street light illuminated my path; i counted each car that passed, hoping for a ride back home.
The city is yet to wake up from its slumber.
I spotted a cab with the taxi sign on its roof.
"Taxi!!" I waved my hand, clutching onto the zipper of my jacket; my teeth shuddering and my knuckles white.
*******************
With a honk, the silver cab sped off down the quiet, villa- lined street. I stood alone in front of my parent's detached house guarded by a steel barred gate.
I knew all the blind spots well enough to sneak out every night.
Each punch of the security code on the gate, brought the grave image of how stern my parents are becoming.
I took off my sneakers; the cold marbled floor pinched my feet whilst opening the back door.
The house was drowsy in its silence. I walked past the hallway to my room, warm tones of yellow and violet peaked through the curtains.
Living in my parents' house has taken me six steps backwards in my life.
I tapped my phone screen two times; the light rays stung my eyes. The time is 6:09am. I threw my backpack on the bed.
Would i grow beyond my current state?
My phone buzzed, greeted by yet another rejection mail.
Dear Aurora,
Thank you for your interest, in submitting an application for a rental property located at, ul. Wiosenna 15B, 04-123, Warszawa, Poland.
After careful consideration, we regret to inform you that we cannot accept your rental application based on the following reasons....
I plopped down onto the bed, defeated, staring at the gold medal i got as the best student in accounting.
I didn't need to read the rest. It was clear, i had to work more shifts to afford a one bedroom flat.
I've never felt confident here.
Beneath my alcohol and sweat smell, the sweet scent of raspberry lingered in the air.
My mother's awake.
"Does your shift take this long?" Her voice was slow.
An electric wave passed through my legs. My shoulders grew stiff.
What else do I have to lose?
"You look terrible." My face tilted up; my mother stared at me with a look of concern; "Do you care for warm milk?"
She stood leaning in my doorway, holding two glasses of milk, one in each hand.
" Yes, sure." I muttered breathless, my heart ached.
I gave a thin smile as she walked towards me, handing me a glass.
" I know, these few years has been a roller-coaster for you," my mother said, the bed sinking me in as she sat beside me. "There's no harm in exploring the world."
All my parents talk about is finding myself a husband.
I held back a sigh.
So much has changed over the years.
" You aren't getting any younger," my mother exclaimed; "you need a husband to survive in this world."
" I need time. Can you give me that?" I exhaled, taking a sip of milk. The time i need to make enough money and buy my freedom before I'm thrown into the cage of another man.
The room was getting thicker, and anxiety was crawling in like a spider on the wall.
" Aurora-"
" Mama, can you not force me to make the mistake of marrying someone like father?"
"Your father tried to reduce the financial risk in our lives."
Her words stung harder than a bee. Was she brainwashed again?
My father. The same man who locked us up like dolls.
"I know how you feel."
"He beats you, Mama," my voice boomed through the space between us. " He used us as puppets; stopped us from living a normal life!"
"Enough!!" A frown crawled across her face.
" I will not follow his rules; he's a tyrant."
A blinding hot sting spread across my left cheek; tears welling up in my eyes, my fingers grazed the spot.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I took deep breaths.
She stood up, her fur robe spreading around her.
"They must pay you well to speak ill of your father."
My eyes stung as I whimpered, "Mama-".
Her brows furrowed, "You're an adult doing childish things."
"I didn't mean to—"
"Quit that job." She said, her hands fidgeting as she fumbled with the robe.
"Your father will be home in three days." She walked away, disappearing into the hallway.
After six long months, he's coming back. My eyes squeezed shut, tears rolling down my cheeks; a sense of dread gripped my insides.
I struggled to swallow, and my hands wouldn't cooperate.
The glass shattered on my legs, and milk drenched my pants.
My jaw dropped. I couldn't scream. I couldn't cry.