Bet you weren’t expecting to hear from me, huh?

Well, I couldn’t leave New York City and not say something.

Not after the shit show that’s been going down.

And, yeah, I’m leaving New York. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but don’t worry. You’ll see me again.

I’ll pop in and out no matter where you are. If you stay with Alexis, you won’t get rid of me that easily.

I just wanted to say thank you for bearing through this before we start wrapping things up, you know? I know at first it didn’t seem like there was going to be a happy ending, but I think we’re getting to it now.

I know you might not like reading about FMF or whatever, but it’s sexual. And it’s dirty. And so I’m hoping it got you wet.

Plus, I mean Destiny and me, we didn’t get far anyways.

But I mean, we had to do it.

Because we had to put a stop to Lester.

You see, Lester represents the old. The old way of thinking. Men, when they thought they could repress women. I’m all for men dominating women during sex, hell, if both parties went into it consensually I’m all for being bought and sold at a fucking auction if you’re a virgin.

But what I can’t get and won’t put up with is the fucking hypocrisy that this world has lived with for too long.

Men can go around and fuck anything they want. But get a woman who likes sex, and she’s a whore. She’s a slut.

Fuck that.

My goal, from now on, is going to be to travel through and keep the society fucking honest.

Anytime there’s a woman in trouble, expect to see me.

Anytime there’s a double standard, I’m going after the motherfucker who’s perpetrating it.

Sure, it means leaving New York. It’s been my home for so many years, but during these past months it became something foreign to me. After seeing all the things Lester did, and after dwelling for so long in the city’s underworld… I guess all that took a toll on me. But now that’s just the past. Ahead of me there’s a long road, and it leads to wherever I want it to.

Austin is busy compiling all the information he got after his security cleaned out Lester’s house, and he’s going to hand everything to the authorities (the non-corrupt authorities, I mean). Once that’s done, I’ll be free. It’s kinda weird, really. I spent so much time trying to make a difference, trying to do some good in this city… And now that my job here is done, I’m actually at a loss on what to do now.

“Partner up with us,” Austin and Destiny offered me, but I just couldn’t accept it. Python and Dirty Destiny are almost an extension of they are, and I’d just feel like an intruder. “Then be our second in command,” they insisted, but I had to say no again.

I’m tired, you see? I need to rest. I’ll probably go somewhere in Europe, and lay low for a while. Maybe I’ll go back to college, who knows? I’ve playing with the idea of becoming a lawyer and making a stand for Human Rights. I guess that’d be right up my alley. But no pressure. I have lots of time to make a decision. Besides, Austin and Destiny gave me enough money to enjoy life for a while and then back on my feet. They’re probably the best two people I have ever met, and it just makes me happy that they found each other. They deserve to be happy.

“And here’s the orange juice for the crazy lady in the blue hair,” I hear Austin tell me. He’s behind the counter with Destiny, and they’re placing bottles up on the shelves. Today’s my last day in New York, but I still had to come and help them out.

“Thank you, fine gentleman,” I mock him, taking a sip out of the orange juice. I spit it out the moment it touches my lips. “It tastes like… ugh, tequila.”

“So? It’s a parting drink,” Austin teases me, laughing in that deep voice of his. Then he takes the glass out of my hands and replaces it with the real orange juice he had hid under the counter.

“Can you stop teasing her, Austin? Help me out in here.” Destiny tells him. She’s high up on a ladder they have against the wall, neatly stacking more bottles on the higher shelves they have behind the counter. Austin just grins at her and shrugs, but his eyes are focused on her ass. Sigh, he’s already thinking of getting her naked the moment I leave. Swear to God, he’s incorrigible.

Sitting on my stool, I look around me and realize how much has changed. I’m not even in Python anymore, the place that was my home for so long. I’m not at Dirty Destiny either, this is a whole new place, and it’s way bigger than both Python and Dirty Destiny. When Lester finally got their operating licenses, they made the decision to partner up and combine both clubs into one. If you asked me, that was the right decision, they have partnered up for life, so why can’t they do the same when it comes to business?

Anyway, this place is freaking huge. They actually bought a whole building to make this a reality. Three dancefloors for the customers, six for the dancers, various themed bars spread around the whole building, and God knows how many private rooms. I could myself inside this place.

But just look at them, smiling at each other, joking, lust always in their eyes. Have you ever seen a more sickening perfect couple? And they’re happy… So happy. The kind of happy everyone deserves to be. I’d be lying if I said I’m not jealous. But I have my whole life ahead of me, and I’m sure that down the road I’ll find a slice of happiness just for myself.

“Sir, the limo’s outside,” a thin man with a suit a balding head tells Austin as he peeks from a door at the end of the room. He nods respectfully at the both Destiny and I, and then goes back to his post.

“Well, I guess that’s your cue, isn’t it?” he asks me, going around the bar and hugging me so tight that I can barely breath.

“Ugh, can’t… breathe…” I hiss with a grin, and he lets go of me. Then it’s Destiny’s turn: she wraps her arms around me and then lays her lips against my right cheek.

“We’re going to miss you,” she says, and I feel tears welling up in my eyes. God, I hate goodbyes, I really do.

“Okay, guys… I have to go,” I mutter, trying to hide the tears in my eyes. I pick my bags up from the floor and start walking toward the exit door on the back, but then Austin calls after me.

“Where are you going?”

“I don’t know…” I tell him honestly, smiling. “Right now, I just want to get to the airport… There, I’ll look up at the departures and pick someplace fancy. Paris? London? Barcelona? I don’t know.”

“I hear they have a pretty good natural orange juice in Barcelona,” he tells me with a smile. I look at him, tears in my eyes once more, and it almost breaks my heart to think that I’m leaving and won’t be hearing his stupid jokes for a while. You know, I was lost and alone in the world when I went knocking on his door… And he took me in, fed me, gave me a place to stay and, above everything else, gave me a purpose and helped me fulfil it. And his easy jokes always made me look on the bright side of life. Whenever things got tough, there he was, always with an easy smile and a witty comeback.

I’m going to miss him.

“Come and visit, okay?” Destiny tells me, walking toward me and holding both my hands. “As far as we’re concerned, this place is your home as well. And you’re a member of the family.”

“I’ll be back,” I promise the two of them, and then just smile and walk toward the exit. The driver is already waiting by the door, holding his hat in one hand. He picks my bags and carries them toward Austin’s limo, and I turn around to look at them one last time.

They’re already back to work, and I just stand there in silence, watching them. Austin walks behind Destiny and, grabbing her by the waist, makes her turn in her heels. He grabs her hands and then spins her around the room, dancing with her as if they were teenagers in love. He then pulls her in and, bending her over the arm he has on her waist, kisses her.

“Goodbye,” I whisper, and then leave, closing the door behind me. I’ll be back, I know it… But I figure that by the time I’m back Destiny will already be cradling a miniature Austin in her arms. Can you imagine that? A small version of Mr. Python, running around the playground and lifting the girl’s skirts. Ah, I can see that pretty clearly.

I walk to the limo and get inside there. The moment I’m cruising through New York’s traffic, I lean back against my seat and just look out the window. Life can be tough, sometimes. And I’ve seen a lot of broken lives and broken homes during my time at Python. I did my best to make a difference, and I think that I succeeded.

Now it’s time for me to make my way in the world.

But where?

Just between you and me, it’s going to be Barcelona.

A friend of mine told me they make really good orange juice there.