As Black As My Soul

I got back to cleaning again. The burned thing in the trash, the pan in the sink, the money in my wallet - Wait! ... Shit! I did sleep with him. No! Why are my customers always the worst? I called Rick. He was my boss. We, the "prostitutes" - although I refer to myself as a slut - have to give him fifty percent of the money we earn. Dumb rule...

"What do you want, three? Quit again, like you tried yesterday?", he spat. I could here his disgust through the phone.

"Thought you could leave, huh? Not with me, my dear friend!"

"Yeah, okay! I understood! Let' s get down to business. I had a customer last night and I wanted to ask where we meet so I can give the money to you?"

It was more of a question than a sentence. My confidence was lacking again. But this bastard sickens me and the dumb thing is: There' s no way out of this fucking misery! I signed the contract...then...

"Hey, number three! I' m talking to you! Don't be inattentive while talking to me!"

"Oh...I' m... sorry. What did you say?"

He sighed.

"How can one person get me in so much trouble? Anyways", he composed hisself, "I said meeting at the park. Be there at noon."

With that he hung up and I was left alone again. Half an hour left. I went to the bathroom and stepped over the door which I had almost forgotten. I observed myself in the mirror. Although I am not old, you can see what my life has done to my face. A bruise on my forehead, hollow cheeks, dark circles around my eyes. I wasn't beautiful. Maybe I once was, I can't remember.
I went on doing what I had to do in the bathroom and minutes later I stood in the park.

I nervously looked at my watch every now and then. Almost four minutes and thirty seconds. I put my hand back into my warm pocket.

"Fast, I'm busy.", commanded a person behind me. 'That must be Rick', I thaught. But I thaught wrong. Just another "busy" customer. Does anyone care if I'm busy? I don't think so.

"Do you have a condom?", I asked.

"Of course! This isn't my first time!"

"Oh, it's your hobby then? Wow! I always wanted to use bitches like a cheap fucktoy! It's my biggest dream!"

I smiled at him sweetly and almost laughed at his dumbfounded look on his ugly face. Those are the customers I usually treat. Too fat and ugly and too lazy to get themselves a wife.

He mumbled something into his dirty beard but I didn't understand something. I watched him leave.

"Who was that?"

Rick.

"No one.", I answered without turning around.

"Oh, miss doesn't feel like looking at me when I talk to her? Fine, I can take all the money too if that's what you want!"

His innocent nod made me crazy. He had this thing about him, I have to admit. Appealing and at the same time rebarbative. Or maybe I just wasn't happy in my role as submissive tributary. Probably both. But I knew better not to contradict and gave him the money.

"Wasn't too hard, wasn't it?"

I said nothing and looked at my watch again. Ten past twelve. The waste of time is in progress. Ten minutes to live, gone. Just like that.

"Answer me!", he yelled!

"Yes! Er... No, it wasn't. Im sorry...I guess...!" I added very quietly, hoping he didn't hear anything.

"What was that?"

"Nothing. I'm really sorry..." Even though' I wasn't but I didn't dare to say it because I was scared of my punishment.

"Eighty percent for me. The next ten customers."

Then he walked away and I felt alone again. Strange that people can get so lonely that they even feel happy in the presence of their most hated persons...

Notes

It's been a while...