Liar's Lullaby

reathe. I sag against the vandalized walls of an empty lot and gulp f

Charlotte

ettles back down and I get

hunger co

the

the

curse unde

go back

behind that bastard's cheap, rickety door. Stuff that I'm pretty sure is g

. I see a blonde teenage boy's head

t-and I'm disappointed to b

ture at me. "Wassup, sexy?!

re I can answer and lea

ike to be proven

is not t

, I start the long walk

r than this uniform. The skirt is too sh

ring a sign on my back

men in this part of the city don

initiative al

t did before. I shiver and keep wal

r and Mickey. They're all merging together in my delirious brain, until I'm

on is as grotes

back to reality-t

ella fills my nostrils. When I pivot, I drink in the

cloths and red lanterns hanging over the doo

ut front bears a name:

but it might as well be Klingo

that concerns me

the moment is getting somethi

ze. I don't even care that I

o give just went flutt

into a seat at the

skinny waiter asks when

ven bothering to glance at a menu. "And pumpkin ra

brows with amusem

confirm. "So

cook like the w

words and grateful

return a minute later with a basket

p to my feet and kiss

ge to rest

bar

gratefully, grabbi

d away. I hear him chuckling under his

he best thing I've

ravioli arrive, I've polished off all

ng else. I finish all of both dishes at lightspeed. It

wn my fork, I fee

ere, hunting for my wallet. This was an expensive indulgence and I'l

go, I'd have probably sold my bo

at it looks like I might

re coming up with no

let is

g into my lap, and

air ties,

no w

the table and upend my bag, dumping all the contents onto the tab

no w

e giving me weird looks as I

e. Please be in

uc

irection when I curse, but I do

not

y mad dash away from Mickey. Which means I've

a of a full bel

icy dread is ba

friendly smile. I try to give him one in return, but it feels like my f

mutter, blush

heck with tremb

dollars

k.

option. I hate it with

n't have

e at the table opposite mine and a bunch of m

the floor, with a second

is. I have

another day and

just have t

en, and then I slide out from behind my table. I

g open again-too soon,

fuck,

, ma'am...

lready accelerating into sprint mode. The othe

in as many hours, I'

his time I

s. Not many pedestrians, not many cars. Just me a