Claire

That was the dumbest note I have ever read. But hey, something inside me was still searching for Ben. Had he truly left? This note was the confirmation that he left me. And he took all our furniture along with him.

As I stood assessing the situation, a knock came on the door. As soon as I opened it, the one person I was avoiding stood at the door, my landlord.

“Hello Claire, good afternoon.”

“Good afternoon, Mr. Jason. Please, how may I help you?” I asked curiously.

“Well, I think you know already. This is the day I’m supposed to come for the rent that you owed me for the past month,” Mr. Jason informed me.

“But I paid you for the past month!” I responded in disbelief. How old was he that he’d  forgotten that he’d been paid?

“I don’t think I received any payment from you, nor did I have any hand-to-hand exchange of money,” Mr. Jason insisted.

“Ben was supposed to pay you.”

“Your boyfriend Ben did not pay. I even asked him a few weeks ago, and he said he was working on something and would get back. I waited for him. I know you two have been struggling to make ends meet, and so I did not bother you. But you two decided to ignore the fact that I need my money.”

“I… I am sorry, but I… gave the rent to Ben to pay,” I stammered, eyelids stinging with unshed tears. Insisting I gave the money to Ben wasn’t helping, because the more I spoke, the more furious Mr. Jason became.

“I don’t think you understand me, Claire, but none of you gave me any money. Please do well to gather your things and move out if you cannot pay.” Those were his last words  before he stormed away.

As  I closed my door, I slid to the floor, hot tears rolled down my face as my chest tightened painfully. 

I was in shock that my life changed in the blink of an eye. I was in shock that I trusted Ben, but he took me for granted. I was in shock because I loved the wrong man.

What should I do now?

I needed to get away from this house. I needed to get far away from all my problems, so I headed straight for the bedroom, where I had dropped my phone on the windowpane.

My hands trembled as I picked up the phone again to dial Maddie’s number. My thumb hovered over the call icon. I didn’t want to be alone right now because the walls were closing in on me, and I couldn’t wait to get out of here.

Something from within  compelled me to dial her number. When I did, she picked up on the first ring.

“Maddie,” was all I could whisper.

“Claire, what is going on? Are you OK? You don’t sound good,” she observed with concern, lacing her voice. She was the only one that didn’t need to see me to know I was on the brink of losing my mind.

I cleared my throat, and the words tumbled out. “Where are you? Please tell me you’re home.”

“No, babe. It’s Friday. I’m at the bar, you know that. Why do you ask?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. My tongue felt thick and my mouth was dry. “I… I just need to see you right now.”

“Come over. You don’t have to ask. You know that.”

Maddie didn’t question me further, and this was the reason I loved her so much. This was how it had always been between us. We were two girls who grew up in a downtown St. Mary’s orphanage. We fought for each other when no one else would. We shared ramen noodles during college days and cried over breakups. Maddie knew me, and I knew her.

I grabbed my overnight bag that lay on the floor and put a few clothes in. In no time, I was outside.

The sun was setting, casting a pale golden hue over the city. More cars were in the streets as traffic became heavy.

Maddie’s bar was a cozy little place tucked in between a tattoo parlor and an auto repair shop. Its neon sign blinked, calling me in. Maddie’s, it read, simple and direct, no-nonsense, like her.

I pushed the double swinging doors open, and I was hit by the smell  of sweat mixed with the sweet scent of whiskey. The music pulsed inside me and outside me. The lights were dim as usual, and the familiar territory welcomed me with open arms.

Maddie stood behind the counter, dark hair falling in loose waves around her shoulders as she polished a glass with slow, practiced motions. She hadn’t seen me yet.

“Claire, how are you? It’s been ages since we saw your face here,” a familiar voice greeted me. Johnson sauntered toward me with a scruffy brown beard and bushy eyebrows. 

“I know. I’ve been quite busy with my job, but I promise to always come visit, and here I am,” I replied with a fake sense of excitement.

For a while, I thought he bought the excuse. It’s either that or he didn’t want to pry into whatever I was going through especially as his eyes lingered a fraction on my face. He’s been our friend for years and sort of double as our big brother.

I dropped my bag on the counter and slid onto a barstool. I didn’t need to say anything when Maddie’s eyes landed on mine. She scrutinized my face, narrowing her eyes.

“Babe, start from the beginning. Tell me everything,” she urged, pouring a generous shot of whiskey without me asking.

I stared at the amber liquid for a while, contemplating what story I should bring forth first. Tears ran down my face. Then I took a long swig of my whiskey. My eyes watered some more, but I held myself together.

“He left me. He took everything along with him. Not just the furniture, he took my savings. He took everything, Maddie.”

Maddie refilled my glass with some more to drink. She froze when she heard what I said.

“Where did you hide the savings?”

“Just somewhere in the toilet. I didn’t even know he knew about  it or where I hid it.”

“What? You told me you kept it hidden in the new makeup box I got you.”

“Yes, I did.” Claire answered.

“That bastard.” Maddie blurted.

“You think that’s all? He left me a breakup note as well. For a split second there, I was like a summer fling.”

I handed the note to her so she could see exactly what I meant.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” she asked, disbelief clear on her face.

 “Take. Here is the only thing that he left behind. A fucking note. And he couldn’t even construct the words properly.”

Maddie took it immediately from my hand, her eyes scanning the paper.

“Why can’t I find the right man?” I wailed, drinking some more whiskey and placing my forehead on the counter.

Maddie extended her hands around me, rubbing my shoulders and my back in soothing circles.

“Everything will be okay, I promise you. And that idiot will pay if I get him. Your drinks are on me today. Drink as much as you want,” Maddie urged, squeezing the paper and throwing it in the trash.

“That’s not all, the money I gave him to pay for our rent was never paid, so I probably would be houseless by tomorrow.”

“You can stay with me. I’m here for you. We’re sisters,” Maddie reminded me, now giving me a hug.

It was like a dam was released and more tears ran down my cheeks. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. The tears flowed. It was only with Maddie I could be vulnerable, only with her I could let myself go.

I wiped my tears and smiled crookedly. “Can I have two more shots, please?”

“Of course you can, as much as you need to get over that asshole,” Maddie responded, encouraging me to forget the pain.

In no time, I was on my 3rd, 4th, and even 5th glass of whiskey. They burned their way down my throat, each glass sweeter than the last. Maddie kept sliding each one to me as she wiped down the counter top.

“You’re good?” Maddie questioned with a slight nod.

I gave her a  half-hearted shrug. I didn’t really care if I was good or not. I didn’t want to care.

“Maddie, define good?” I asked drunkenly, sliding my finger across the rim of the glass.

“I am glad you are still breathing, so that counts for something.”

I laughed, although it was a bitter and hollow one, but I did. I hadn’t planned to drink so much, but here I was, sitting here, surveying the bar as customers strolled in.

“I can’t believe he just took everything and left. I mean, what’s wrong with a proper goodbye?”

Maddie did not respond. She filled up my glass again. The warmth of the drink spread all over my body and my eyes swam slightly, unable to focus. The ache in my heart dulled. The betrayal was still there like a bruise, still fresh. A handful of couples took to the door as they swayed to the rhythm of the music. I slid off the barstool instantly, staggering a bit as I steadied nyself.

“I know what I need, Maddie. I need to dance,” I told her.

Maddie’s eyes narrowed at me. “Are you sure about that?” She asked.

I nodded, slightly wobbling a little. “I don’t want to sit. I want to forget. I want to forget that this day ever happened,” I announced, turning around before Maddie could object.

I rolled my hips awkwardly to the beat. My arms were loose at my sides. I closed my eyes, imagining the world that was better than this one.

Suddenly, someone’s shoulders bumped into me, and I tried to step back, but I found myself spinning, then collided with a hard chest.