We cooked up a decent dinner at Monica's place. I picked her daughter from the daycare and got home in the meanwhile. It was almost 8 pm, and we're all going to have dinner. I feel like a family man. There's a delicious chicken gravy and some rice on the table.
"Uh uh, I'll serve" asserted Monica.
We ate dinner while talking about her daughter. She doesn't talk much but she shows a lot of reaction to what we say about her. She's about 6 years old with brown hair.
"She resembles her dad in looks," said Monica.
"I know right? She's cheeky like him." I replied.
I hear a knock. Someones on the door. I stood up.
"No, no you don't need to trouble yourself, I'll go answer. You can sit down." asked Monica.
"Alright" I sat down. I caught a quick glimpse of Monica's daughter. Her face is concerned. She's constantly looking over my shoulder to see her mom. Something is not right. I turned around to look.
"I get where you're coming from but you just need to give me more time, I'll p-"
I hear Monica talking to a man. He's saying something in a muffled tone. I think he's drunk.
I stood up. "It'll be fine. I'm here, okay?" I told the child in a comforting way, signalling her to go upstairs with a smile. I made my way to the door.
"What's going on?" I spoke to the man who stood at the door. He wore an overgrown shirt that showed his belly, he also had a bottle in his hand. He's clearly drinking too much.
"I'll tell you, wanker! This is my house. I need the rent money, that's what's going on!" he shouted at me.
"You need to calm down! I'll pay the dues!" Monica told him.
He pushed Monica away, I caught her before she fell to the floor. I rushed and held the door close so he couldn't get in. He already put one of his hands in. He's much bigger than me, I can't hold it together much longer. Monica seems to be crying in fear. I've to stop this mad man from getting any closer to her. He might assault her badly; I need to be here for her. He swung his bottle and broke it on my head. "ARRGHHH!!!" I yelled out in pain. It's making my legs weaker. I'm about to give in. I think I'm bleeding from the hit. My eyes soaking in my own blood, it's blurring my sight. I can't give up now. I couldn't be there for Vic when hung himself in his room at 17. I was mad at him. He could've just told me that he and Monica had a thing going on. He could've told me something so I could have prevented things from going extreme. I couldn't be there for my best friend when he needed me the most. Shortly after Vic passed away, Monica tried to take her own life by jumping off but I caught her in the act. I can't bear to lose 2 of my friends back to back. She was taken away by her uncle and aunt. I heard her parents are too ashamed to see her ever again. My whole life fell apart before I was even 18. My dad was forced to abandon the gas station project. He left the work to take care of me because he knew I went through something no one should be subjected to. But I was mad at myself because I couldn't do anything. We left for the city, I joined a new school and stayed there. That was the last time I ever saw the town. I couldn't make new friends. I don't know if it's the city or me but everyone just seemed a lot meaner than i hoped for. I couldn't get along, I fought my way through school years, in the literal sense. I don't even know how many times I stood in front of the principal's room. University days were even harder. I thought I'd get more friends, maybe even a girlfriend at some point but it was far from the reality. Oh the reality, It's more like a big wet trash truck that runs you over when you least expect it. Needless to say, I never got along with anybody after I moved out of this town. I was utterly alone even though there were so many people around me. I came to accept this is just life and before I even knew it, I graduated and sat around doing nothing for months cause I was too late to get the degree to apply for a job, not that anyone will accept my grades anyway. I'm USELESS and I DON'T WANT TO BE THIS WAY ANYMOOOOORRRRRRRRREEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
….
I blacked out. What happened? Did I fail again? Where's monica? Where's monica? Where's monica? Where's monica? monica? monica? monica? monica? monica? monica? monica? monica? monica? monica? monica? monica? monica?????
"I'm here! You don't strain yourself! We're in a hospital now, relax."
I hear Monica's voice. I looked around and saw her tearing up beside me with the daughter by her side. She rushed towards me and hugged. We kissed. "The nurse told me you were constantly saying my name in my sleep" said Monica while crying and smiling at the same time. I hugged her again.