HIS ONE NIGHT, MY FOREVER

I was so wet in the rain that my face hurt but  I didn’t care, I just wanted to get home.

I opened the door and the roof was leaking again. 

The floor was wet and my little sister, Mia, sat in the corner, she hugged her stomach.

“I am  hungry,” she whispered.

I ran to her and knelt down on the wet floor.

“I know, baby. I know.” I brushed her wet hair from her face. “I will get something soon, okay? I promise.”

She nodded slowly, but she did not smile. 

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I froze.

It was the hospital.

I stood up fast and pressed the phone to my ear. My heart beat faster.

“Hello?” I said and my voice was shaking.

“Miss Alina,” a nurse said and her voice was cold and sharp. 

“Your mother’s condition is worse. She needs the injection tonight or…”

“I know,” I cut her off. “Please. Just give it to her. I will bring the money tomorrow. I swear…”

“We can’t do that anymore,” the nurse said and there was no emotion in her voice. 

“No money, no medicine.”

She hung up.

Just like that.

I stared at the phone and my hand dropped. It fell from my fingers and hit the floor with a soft sound.

I had nothing, no money, no food, no job, and no hope.

And I just lost the only thing keeping us alive.

Two hours ago...

I stood behind the counter of the bakery and my hands were covered in flour. My feet hurt from standing all day and the room was hot. The ovens were on and sweat dripped down my back.

Then I felt it.

A hand on my waist.

I froze.

“Get your filthy hands off me!” I screamed and pushed him away hard.

My boss took a step back, shocked. “You hit me.”

“You touched me!” I shouted, loud enough for the other workers to hear. “I’m not your toy!”

He narrowed his eyes. “You are fired,” he growled. “Get out.”

I grabbed my bag and stormed out of the bakery. My legs shook, but I kept walking. 

That job was all I had and no one else will hire me now, not with a sick mother and a starving sister.

Back in the room, I sat in the dark, and Mia closed. Her small body fit perfectly in my arms, she was warm, but too still.

The door slammed open and I jumped.

It was my cousin, Lila.

She walked in wearing high heels and bright lipstick. Her eyes scanned me from head to toe and she frowned.

“You look like trash,” she said and her voice was sharp. “But you want to save your mom, right?”

I didn't answer, she tossed something on the bed.

It was a red dress.

It was short and tight and the fabric was shiny. It looked expensive and not made for girls like me.

“Wear that,” Lila said. “There’s a party tonight. Rich men. You just have to serve drinks. No one will touch you.”

I stared at the dress and my hands stayed in my lap.

“I can’t leave Mia alone,” I whispered.

Lila rolled her eyes. “I will watch her. Do you want your mom to die or not?”

My lips pressed into a line and I looked at Mia. She was still curled up and so small and quiet.

I looked at the dress again.

“Fine,” I whispered.

The hotel smelt like roses and money, I walked behind Lila, and my head was down. 

I didn’t belong here.

“Just go to the top floor,” Lila said. “Room 707. They are waiting.”

“Who are they?”

She rolled her eyes. “Rich men. Just smile and do your job.”

The elevator was gold and it glowed.

My hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

I pressed the button for the top floor and when the doors opened, I stepped out slowly.

A man stood outside Room 707. He wore a black suit and didn’t smile. He just opened the door.

I walked in.

There was one man sitting on the edge of the bed.

He looked up.

And I froze.

He was tall, broad shoulders and his black suit looked like it was made for him. His hair was dark and his eyes were darker.

He stared at me and said nothing.

“I… I think I’m in the wrong room,” I whispered.

There was still nothing.

I turned to leave. Then the door slammed shut.

I jumped and I grabbed the handle.

Locked. I pulled out my phone.

Dead.

“No… no, no…” I whispered and I was scared.

“You knew what this was,” he said suddenly.

His voice was deep and cold.

“Take the money and do your job.”

I spinned around. “What? No… I think you have the wrong girl.”

He stood, he was taller than I thought and he walked closer.

“Don’t pretend,” he said 

“I’m not! I swear! I’m just here to serve drinks.”

He didn’t stop walking.

“Then why are you dressed like that?” he asked.

I pressed my back against the wall.

“My cousin said I just had to serve drinks,” I whispered. “Please. Let me go.”

He stopped a few steps away.

“You want to leave?” he said and his voice was calm, but sharp. “Fine. Give the money back.”

“I didn’t take any money!”

“Then you are here for free?” He tilted his head. “Interesting.”

My body shook and my legs felt weak. I think I might faint.

“Please…” I beg. “My mother was dying. I need help. I don’t want this.”

He stepped closer.

“One night,” he said. “That’s all. Then you will never see me again.”

Tears slipped down my cheeks. I looked away and my throat hurt. I wanted to scream.

“I don't want this…” I cried.

But I thought of Mia.

Her soft voice, her empty stomach and her dried lips.

I thought of my mother, coughing in that hospital bed.

And slowly…

I stopped fighting.

I closed my eyes and I let the silence took me.

—

Morning came and I opened my eyes and my body ached. My throat was dry and the sheets were cold.

He was gone. I sat up slowly and I wrapped the blanket around me.

On the table, something shune.

A gold bracelet.

I walked to it and my hands shook as I picked it up.

On the inside, there are words.

S. Blackwell.

My breath stopped and I held the bracelet to my chest. My heart beat so fast, it hurt.

Who is he?

And what have I done?