An angel for rent

Celeste walked through the bars of the large, gray, sad building. The guards at the entrance greeted her with a nod of the head, they didn't need to ask for her ID, all the employees of the prison were used to seeing the young girl sometimes more than once a month.

"Hello, beautiful!" greeted one of the oldest employees of the place.

"Mari..." the young woman smiled brightly, bringing a large plastic tupperware to the counter. "This time they are lemon, I know that the chocolate ones from last time didn't sit very well with you."

"You are an angel, darling, come in, your father is already anxiously waiting in the visiting room."

The young woman went through the second bar, allowed herself to be searched as per protocol by the guards who smiled at her and entered the visiting room. There were many small tables with a chair on each side. There were many families visiting the prisoners. Wives, mothers, entire families with their children.

Celeste looked for her father with her big eyes painted like the sky, she smiled even more when she saw him sitting near the window, with his gray hair combed neatly back and his shirt well ironed.

"Dad!" she shouted, running towards him and hugging him tightly. The guards did not prevent the physical contact that was forbidden. They all knew that they only had each other and had grown fond of the young woman, they had seen her grow into a woman.

"My little one. How have you been?"

Although it hurt, they both released the hug and sat facing each other.

"Good! Look, I brought you some of your favorites," she exclaimed, sliding a brown paper wrapper with vanilla and chocolate pastries across the table.

The man smiled fondly as he smelled the exquisite aroma. He took the pastries that his daughter always brought him on each visit in his old hands. He watched her in silence, his little girl had grown so much and he had missed everything, his smile suddenly disappeared.

-What happened dad? Don't you like them anymore?

-I love everything you cook, little one- he smiled melancholy- You know you don't have to come visit me every month, right?

-But I want to do it- she protested- We already talked about this dad.

-I don't want you to use your money on me, okay? Promise me that.

Celeste crossed her arms angrily.

"There it is again" she thought with annoyance.

-A good lawyer can get you out of here! Let me pay for it!

-I want you to use that money for yourself, for whatever you want, I don't know, study something, have a better apartment, a better life than your father.

Celeste stood up suddenly from her seat, swallowing her tears of helplessness.

-You're going to get out of here no matter what it costs me, it wasn't your fault. You're locked up for a crime that someone else committed! - she protested, unable to hold back her tears any longer.

Her father wanted to continue arguing, but it was always the same and this time he didn't want the visit to end with both of them angry. His beloved daughter was just like his late wife, when an idea got into her head, she fought until she got it, no matter what. The man just wanted her to use that same energy for herself and not be stuck with him on something that wasn't his fault.

The man sighed heavily - Promise me that you're going to take better care of yourself, little one, that you're going to study or maybe even find someone to share your life with. I dream that one day you'll show up with a man to visit me!

Celeste laughed more relaxed. -They're all the same, dad, when I talk to them about dating or living together, they always run away scared - she pouted.

-He'll be here soon, darling, you have to be patient- she exclaimed, caressing his cheek- now go- Don't you have to go to work?

The young woman kissed her father's cheek as she always did before leaving- I love you dad, take care, okay?

-You too, say hello to your friends and tell them thank you for taking care of you-

-I always tell them- she exclaimed, winking.

---

Celeste walked quickly through the narrow hallway of the locker rooms, looking with a wide smile at the old and worn door that had a sky-blue sign with silver glitter that said in gold letters "Angel."

She entered her small dressing room, the one that had been hers since she was 18, every corner shouted her name, the mirror full of photos with her friends and her father, and just one with her mother when she was just a baby. Her indoor plants, her coat rack with hundreds of white outfits with glitter and feathers and her small table with her hundreds of makeups that she had accumulated in the last 10 years. Many were expired, broken or old, but she was not able to throw them away, they all reminded her of something.

-How was your dad?

-Tati! - the young woman shrieked, clutching her shirt at her heart- You scared me. I told you not to hide in my locker room.

A 19-year-old boy came out from between his clothes with a white boa around his neck and a top hat of the same color, doing a theatrical act that made his foster aunt laugh.

-Sorry- he said embarrassedly taking off his costume. - I was hiding from my sister, today she got up on the wrong foot.

Celeste began to take off her clothes without being ashamed of the boy. He simply turned his back to give her privacy.

-It's just that it's final exam dates and Kristal wants you to show her your grades. She just wants to see that her money was worth it- she said amused.

The boy snorted- She treats me like her son. She's...- He couldn't finish speaking because a hoarse and painful cough invaded him.

Celeste turned around alarmed taking her foster nephew by the shoulders and sat him on her stool, massaging his back in circles. The coughing didn't stop and the boy's eyes began to water and his skin turned red.

Celeste began to check the pockets of the boy's sweatshirt. "And the inhaler?" she asked when she couldn't find it. The young man shook his head without stopping coughing.

Celeste took a bottle of water from her small cooler and brought it to him. Little by little she drank the entire contents until she was able to calm down and breathe deeply, filling her lungs with air again.

"Are you okay, Tati?" She asked worriedly. It had been months since she had coughed like that and she had come to believe that the illness was never going to return.

"Yes, better," she said with a hoarse voice.

"And your medicine? Why don't you have it on you? You know that in case of any emergency..."

"I couldn't buy a new one," he exclaimed embarrassed, biting his lower lip.

"But what about the money I gave you from my last paycheck?"

-Don't tell my sister, but they raised my college tuition and I also had to buy some new notes.

Celeste combed his dark hair lovingly. -Why didn't you tell me? You know I could have bought it for you, if something had happened to you, I would...

-I didn't want you to spend more on me, you already help me too much with the other medications.

-You know I would give a kidney for you, silly. - she said, tapping his nose lovingly. -Don't worry, I'll get the money for your medicine. Okay? - The young man nodded embarrassed. -Just don't tell Kristal, you know she doesn't like me to pay for things. It's our secret. Okay? - he said, extending his little finger in conspiracy.

The boy intertwined his little finger with his foster aunt's, sealing the promise.

-Our secret.

Celeste smiled widely. To her, the boy was like a little brother. She had changed his diapers, heard his first words, and been there on his graduation day. If anything happened to him, she would never forgive herself.

-Okay, now go to your sister and show her the grades.

-But...

-It's part of the deal- she exclaimed, pushing him towards the door and giving him a slap on the buttock.

The boy rolled his eyes and walked out of there with his head down, knowing that his sister wasn't going to take kindly to his failed exam that he had been trying to hide.

Celeste laughed at the young man's pouting, but when the door closed her smile disappeared and she fell heavily on the stool, covering her face with her hands.

How was she going to get that money?

Her salary wasn't bad, but with the rent for her small apartment, the cats of her life, the monthly help to Tati and the savings for her father's lawyer, she had almost nothing left for emergencies. Sometimes the tips she earned at work at night were what saved her from having to borrow from her boss or her friend if she needed extra money.

She finished dressing without much enthusiasm and walked out into the hallway. She greeted the other dancers who had already finished their shows and crossed the private section that in her 10 years she had never set foot in on the other side of the doors.

That exclusive area where the wealthiest men could indulge themselves by receiving a private dance from the most beautiful women in the bar or rather in the entire city.

Of course she was not one of the lucky ones. Every Saturday night she hoped that this time it would be her lucky night, a man would see her and point her out. But that never happened. The eyes drawn with dollar signs of those old businessmen always rested on the beautiful bodies of her companions. Celeste felt like the graceless shadow that grew older and older and the opportunity to be selected felt more and more impossible.

A silly and cloying giggle took her out of her thoughts. The young woman saw how the new dancer laughed at some unfunny joke from the man next to her and from whom she was hanging like a koala.

Scarlet? Ruby? Diamond? She didn't remember his nickname, but she did remember his youthful beauty, his high cheekbones, his feline gaze and his long, waist-length red hair that made his dull, graceless blonde hair a joke. The redhead opened the door to one of the private rooms and let in the man in a suit who didn't have to be very smart to know was loaded with money.

The redhead sent Celeste a victorious smile and closed the door behind her.

The blonde felt envy and jealousy flush her white face.

"She's a..."

She couldn't finish insulting her when her boss's voice behind her made her jump in fright.

"Are you ready yet?"

"For God's sake Dany, if someone else scares me today..."

"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly as he noticed her tense face. He always worried about her and knew her perfectly.

-You know, money problems- she exclaimed as she walked with her boss down the hall.

-You know that if you need money I can give it to you without you having to pay it back.

-I know Dany, but what if you get me a private dance? You know... from some new client, you could convince him that I...

-No- she interrupted her curtly.

-But Dany...

-If you need the money, my offer is available- she said with annoyance, ending the conversation.

Before Celeste could protest she turned around and disappeared down the hall. The young woman sighed heavily, arguing with Dany was like talking to a wall, he was so closed that it was difficult to change his mind and convince him that he was wrong.

-If only someone saw me...- She whispered to herself, knowing that her problems would end if she could earn a few hundred dollars for a night with some old man in need.