Chapter 5

They both scrambled for discarded clothes and belongings before scurrying off like cowardly assholes, and I only realized my bag was with him after I slumped down on a closed toilet and cried my eyes out. Completely betrayed by two people I should have been able to trust, with more heartache to add to my ever-growing memory album. I sobbed until this numbness took effect and wiped me out. Although I’m still feeling fragile, I’m mostly just empty.

Dionne played the role of girly best friend for weeks. Looking back, I now see that she was milking me for anything she could get, a never-ending stream of money on ‘tick’ with promises to pay it back. My clothes, my shoes, and now my man. Luckily, my cell was in the back pocket of my denim skirt. A habit Arry drilled into me from an early age. Always keep my cell phone on me if I ever need him… no matter what. My lifeline to my boy.

My other friends seem to have vanished as quickly. As soon as I stumbled out of the ladies’ room