Chapter 3 "Vanishing"

The bar was full of people. Laughter and singing filled the air, as if everyone around me was indifferent to my suffering while I moved between the tables, serving drinks with a sense of emptiness. My throat still ached from the morning's outburst of anger.

—Are you okay? —Ruth asked as she poured some drinks at the bar.

—Yeah —the words came out almost soundlessly from my mouth.

—It's about the house again, isn't it? —an angelic compassion etched itself on Ruth's face. She had known for some time about the mortgage problems that had been haunting me.

—I'll tell you later —I replied, with no desire to talk, yet wanting to scream everything out.

—A strong drink, please —a male voice, firm in tone, made us turn immediately to the bar.

It was him, the same man I had seen the night before in the VIP area with the arrogant lawyer. His figure, long hair, and imposing attitude were unmistakable. I couldn't help but stare at him, as if his presence hypnotized me, as if something about him broke all the rules of nature.

Ruth hurried to serve him, but I stood still like a statue, my mind in chaos, connecting all the threads of the previous night and the property claim. Ruth turned to serve the drink to the man leaning against the bar with his enigmatic presence. With a cold smile, he said to me:

—You always end up paying what you owe. Don't you think?

Ruth, bewildered by the tension in the air, looked at me, surprised. With a mix of uncertainty and explosive anger, I approached the man. With a trembling but firm voice, I asked him:

—You're Mr. Audrey, aren't you?

He smiled wickedly and said:

—Tick-tock, tick-tock.

He placed the glass on the table and turned around, leaving the bar. In a fit of rage and desperation for answers, I ran after him, pushing people aside.

But when I reached the street, he was gone. He had vanished like smoke, leaving me with a whirlwind of questions in my mind. I stopped, gasping, my heart pounding so hard I felt it might burst from my chest.

I looked around, but he wasn't there. He had disappeared as if he had never been there. I suppressed a scream of frustration and returned to the bar, barely able to think clearly.

Ruth was even more worried, but I didn't want to go into details, especially not during work hours. An unbearable pain took over my head, as if it were about to explode. The night seemed endless, and the customers were more unbearable than ever.

—Hey, gorgeous. My name is Ryan —a guy said, extending his hand to introduce himself.

—Hi —I replied, making it clear I wasn't in the mood for conversation.

—I'm sorry for bothering you. I wanted to introduce myself since we're coworkers, and you're the only one I haven't met yet —he scratched his head.

—Emma. I need to keep working —I said, without looking at him. I didn't even know who was talking to me.

—Okay, sorry.

I felt him step away and took a deep, tired breath. "Damn Mr. Audrey, damn life," I repeated in my head all the time. Suddenly, a loud crash snapped me back to reality; the tray I was holding had fallen.

The glasses shattered on the floor, and the liquid spilled everywhere.

—No, no —I said as I bent down to pick up each piece of glass.

—It happens to all of us —a boy with blue eyes and short brown hair flashed a smile while helping me with the mess.

—Thanks, it's not a good day —I said, embarrassed, as I finished cleaning up the tray with the wreckage.

He helped me up, grasped my arm, and lightly brushed his hand across my waist until I was steady. His long, large dragon tattoo was prominent on his right arm.

That's when I realized he was the new singer of the bar. Oh God, Ryan, the one I had ignored a few minutes ago. Sometimes, life has drastic ways of teaching you to be polite to others.

—Thanks, and… I'm sorry I didn't speak to you the best way earlier —I said, embarrassed.

—I'll get you back for that —he chuckled playfully, placing his hands on his hips, showing off his toned, athletic body— Just kidding —he scratched his head again.

—Well, I didn't know there was a fee —I grimaced and rolled my eyes. I turned and went back to the bar to finish my work. "Just what I needed to end the night, a jokester."

———

Morning was breaking, and slowly the bar had emptied. My boss was finishing up throwing out the drunkards who couldn't fend for themselves anymore. I went, as always, to get my things from the locker and then to the bathroom to try to revive my face.

The mirror showed a more tired Emma than yesterday. The dark shadows under my eyes were now more noticeable. I couldn't help but remember all the problems weighing on my shoulders, making them feel like an unbearable burden.

A tear rolled down from my left eye, just one. No one knows the pain I carry inside. If only I could close my eyes and disappear for a second, but life is here and now; there's no way out of problems other than facing them.

I washed my face, as if the water could dissipate my reality.

—Chubby —I felt the soft, angelic voice of my friend as she placed a hand on my shoulder.

—I know you don't want to talk, but you can't punish yourself like this. Just let me help you.

She stroked my hair. I lifted my head from the sink and wiped my face, but my eyes were red, as if they could no longer bear the weight of so many stored tears.

—I'm going to lose my house, Ruth, and the worst part is that I only have a week left. Well, six days. I don't even know where I'll live. —

I broke down; I felt my strength drain away, and then a torrent of tears streamed from my eyes.

—Oh, chubby. Cry, it's okay. We'll find a solution; you're not alone—

Ruth hugged me, and I returned the embrace. I felt that at least for a few minutes, I wasn't alone.

—You'll come live with me. It's not much, but it'll help until you sort this situation out. I won't take no for an answer —she said, stroking my hair.

I couldn't speak, just take refuge in that embrace.

—I'll help you with the move, then you'll tell me all the details. We'll get through this. You've been strong for so long; sometimes it's necessary to break in order to rise again—

Ruth was trying to console me, but without realizing it, her words were exactly what I needed.

"Maybe today I feel like I'm dying inside, but it's just a process; I won't die here."