You Don't Own Me by Vieira Ana

Author:Vieira, Ana
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2023-07-22T00:00:00+00:00

I woke up to a hand gently tapping my cheeks.

"Wake up, dear."

It was a new voice, feminine and pleasant. Her blurry image soon transformed into a beautiful curled brown hair framing a concerned, precious face.

"Take it."

She shoves a glass of water in my face. I take a deep drink, gagging a little.

"Who are you?"

I sounded surlier than I intended.

"I'm Julie."

That's not her real name, I don't know how, but I know that.

"Come on, let's take you upstairs."

She grabs me by the waist, pulling me to my feet. She is stronger than her thinness makes her look.

"What about him?" I ask, referring to Andrew lying on the deckchairs, sleeping.

"He's fine."

I hug the stranger like a crutch, and we leave the pool area. When comfortable walking alone, I break free of her and head to my room. Much to my embarrassment, she doesn't leave me, like a chaperone, accompanying me in respectful silence.

"Where did you come from?" I ask.

Julie just nods and gives me a mild smile as if she doesn't understand my language. The mysterious girl places her hands on my shoulders from the bottom of the stairs up to the bedroom floor, ensuring I don't fall. Her nursing annoys me a bit. It wasn't necessary, I don't feel dizzy anymore, just a little out of place.

We split up at the top of the stairs. Curious, I kept my eyes on the girl, following her light steps down the hall until she entered the guest room where Will and Claire were staying.

I don't want to judge, but it's clear she's just another very young, unfortunate girl on call they got to come in late at night. It's not like I haven't been used to seeing these girls around since I was a kid. I knew two things from childhood about my mother: she'd always protect me and wasn't the suburban housewife type. Meaning her marriage had no borders. When we ran into one of those girls in the halls, we heard it was their friend, Candy, or Cherry, or Kitt. Friends who could have been my older sisters and frequented their room long after our bedtime.

I tried not to think less of my mother because of that. She and my dad had been separated for as long as I could remember, and she had fought hard to keep me fed and clothed. Her longest-lasting job was waitressing at a strip club most nights of the week. And try as I might not to think about it, I don't doubt she's done more than just waiting tables some nights.

Seeing those girls around the house forced me to remember Mom's old life with me and the things she had to do to keep me alive. They made me feel stinging guilt. They looked so young, barely legal, and seemed to get younger as time passed.

When she closes the door, giving me one last uncomfortable look, I head to my bedroom. Before I reach the doorknob, I hear howls echoing down the hall. Because

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