2
Today was my day off, so I decided to tidy up and clean the apartment.
My mother wasn't there again. She was probably looking for new material again.
I was already used to her staying away a little longer.
Undeterred, I began cleaning the bathroom first. Then the kitchen and living room.
I played my music on my cell phone, otherwise it was too quiet in this apartment.
Suddenly it vibrated before I looked and a message from my work colleague, who is also a friend, Grace appeared.
Grace:
Your regular customer was here
asking for you.
I told him
you're free :)
It hadn't even been twenty-four hours and he wanted to see me again?
I texted Grace a quick 'thank you' and put my phone down again.
Now my thoughts wandered unintentionally to Kian.
He was a nice, attractive man. Still, he radiated something dangerous. I didn't quite know what to think about it. He was more than ten years older than me. And yet I felt something near him that I wasn't supposed to feel.
It was undefinable.
Not wanting to be distracted by him or anyone else, I continued with the household chores.
A little later there was a knock at the door. Strange. Actually, I wasn't expecting anyone and if it were my mother, she would surely have her keys with her.
When I didn't move to open it, the doorbell rang several times and a knock came again. Then Kian's voice came out.
Kian?!
“I know you're home. Please open the door.” he called through the door.
How the hell did he know where I lived? I could only hope Grace hadn't told him. If she had, she would tell me.
I ran to the door and opened it a crack. I saw Kian standing in front of it, in his suit, as always. This time it was dark grey.
"May I?" he asked me, pointing into the apartment.
I hesitantly opened it and let him in.
Kian looked around before I motioned for him to take a seat on the sofa. I felt a little uncomfortable that he was here. After all, not only the apartment but the whole neighborhood looked run down.
Kian seemed to have a lot of money. Who else could afford such an expensive suit, patent leather shoes, an expensive watch and gold rings?
"How do you know where I live?" I finally wanted to know.
He smiled at me with his outrageously beautiful and full lips.
"I know a great deal about you, Saphira."
Shocked that he knew my name himself, I panicked internally. There was no way he knew everything about me. Not even Grace knew everything.
"You have something I want," he said in his deep, raspy voice.
What should I own that he wants? I didn't have anything that he already had doubled and tripled. So what was he getting at?
"I do not quite understand. What should I have?' I voiced my thoughts.
Kian studied me with his intense green eyes. He licked his lips before stepping closer to me.
“Listen, Sapphira. I know what kind of circumstances you grew up in and I know what you must go through with your mother.' he began.
What the hell was going on here? How could he know? God damn it, if my mother had anything to do with him and owed him, I'd want to strangle her. It was slowly going too far! What else should I do to make it finally stop?
"If my mother had anything to do with it then-" I couldn't say any more as he cut me off.
'Your mother doesn't matter, don't worry. It's much more about you.”
About me? Now I didn't understand anything anymore. It was like he was speaking in many mysteries that I couldn't solve. I only understood train station.
"I want you. Come with me and start over. This is no life for you. You're still so young, Saphira.” , he dropped the bombshell.
I stared into his eyes, stunned by what he had just said. he wanted me? But at what price? And why me of all people? Besides, I couldn't leave my mother here alone. She dies without me...
“Why me?”
“Because you're special. No one appreciates you but me.”
I looked around my mother's apartment and thought seriously about what he had said.
Undecided, I looked back at Kian, who looked at me expectantly.
"She'll die if I leave," I murmured softly.
Kian moved a little closer so that his knee touched mine.
Thousands of electric shocks went through my body. And all with just a light touch.
“Your mother doesn't even know you're here. She doesn't care about you so just let her live how she wants. You've done enough for her already.” He took my hand in his and stroked it up and down with his thumb.
It was a nice feeling to be touched like that. No one has ever been as gentle with me as he has. Maybe I should give it a chance after all.
"Just because your mother gave up her life doesn't mean you have to give up your life," he added.
Kian was right. My mother had long since stopped living. And I was obliged from a young age to provide for both of us somehow. I needed a fresh start. And this one was sitting right here in front of me. He offered me a life I had never lived before.
I agreed with Kian, packed the essentials in a bag and left my mother a suicide note. Whether she would ever read it remained an open question.
In front of the door I took one last look into the apartment. I memorized every single detail and in exactly the same second I left my old life, my old self behind me.
