This Is My Real Name by Cid V Brunet

Author:Cid V Brunet
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Arsenal Pulp Press
Published: 2021-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

SATURDAY

When I get up Bailey is at the table selecting pills from her broad assortment of vitamin supplements. She arranges them on the table like a fistful of precious stones. “What happened last night?” she asks.

“I got head-fucked by that biker,” I say, massaging my tense jaw.

Bailey frowns and shakes her head. “I didn’t like him when I first met him, and that was before all his friends showed up.”

“I couldn’t figure out a way to get you away from there,” Violet says. “I’m sorry I didn’t try harder.” She is lacing up running shoes.

“Honestly, I’d already lost it long before you came in, Violet,” I say. “These day shifts are killing me. I know it can’t be all money, all the time, but six hours of no clients and only making minimum wage for shift pay is insulting. It burns me out.”

Violet applies a cloud of sunscreen. “Next time you could refuse to be on schedule. You can freelance and only come in at night. It sounds like you’d be willing to lose the shift pay in order to get more rest.” She’s so calculated. Why haven’t the endless days affected her like they do me?

“Can we not talk about how bad day shifts are?” Bailey says. “I have to be there in two hours.”

“Don’t all the pills make you sick on an empty stomach?” I ask as she shakes out a gel cap containing Rhodiola, ashwagandha, and Schisandra.

“They basically are food.” She chokes them down with a glass of water thick with green superfood powder.

I pour boiling water onto a black tea bag and let it steep ruby brown before stirring in cream with a plastic spoon. I miss my favourite porcelain cup. The perfect grip of the handle. The greens, browns, and reds in the potter’s glaze like earth and moss. How Luke is always so pleased when he says good morning to me, as if it’s the first time we’ve woken up together.

“Are you actually going for a run?” I ask Violet.

“There are trails in the woods around campus,” she says.

Bailey is incredulous. “You know it’s still a heat wave, right?” “I’m only doing ten K today.”

“I promise I will never run ten kilometres in my life,” Bailey vows as Violet leaves.

I follow Bailey to the gazebo so she can smoke. “How was the rest of your night?” I ask.

“It was good. I made a lot.”

“Donny ruined my night,” I say. “I don’t know why I let him get to me like that.” His eyes, while he swore at me, were brimming with tears, as if I was hurting him.

“In general you seem to know exactly when to leave,” Bailey says. “But you were so worn out, and we all know it can be a shit show.”

“It felt like he wasn’t even talking to me.” I shiver.

“He was talking to every girl who called him fat or gay, his mother, his ex-wife. You don’t even exist for him.”

“You’re so wise,” I say. “Honestly, you’re the most empathetic person I know.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.