CHAPTER 12

KATE

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, and although it was hot, it wasn't that level of hot where one dripped sweat through their clothes as they walked. There was a soft breeze that was strong enough to cool me down as I walked, but not so strong that it blew my hair everywhere. Even the people seemed to be in on the act as they didn't overcrowd me as I walked and very few shouted or swore within my vicinity.

Yes, it was a glorious day, and there was nothing that was going to stop it.

The glory that was the day really began the previous night, with Liam apologizing. That, in itself, was shocking, and something that I would have never seen coming. I mean, what man apologizes for his own actions? Totally unheard of. And, just to add icing on the cake, he then proceeded to bestow untold pleasures on me, as if trying to prove a point. He knew that he had messed up and wanted to make it right.

The sex that we had was mind bending and like nothing I had had before, or at least, I assume that to be the case. It was totally selfless and all about me. Sure, maybe I was a little presumptuous as I forced him to go down on me, but I couldn't help myself. I was sure he was going to and just needed some convincing.

So that was where the great day began, and it only continued as I woke up to find him kneeling on my bed with ready-made breakfast. Sure, he had to go to work, but he was extraordinarily apologetic about it. Besides, that’s what normal people did. They went to work in the morning. I couldn’t ask him to skip work all the time just to fuck me all day.

He even insisted that I meet him for lunch, and that's where I was headed now. I ate his breakfast, which wasn’t a bad effort, spent the morning reading a few more of my stories, and then headed out, eager for a pleasant stroll through the city before meeting Liam for lunch.

I had to admit that every time I read one of my stories, I became more and more impressed with myself. The writing was what got me the most. The actual stories were adequate, but it was the writing that stood out. I got the sense that I was one good story away from writing something that mattered. It was a relief really, considering the job that I had apparently been doing on the side to make ends meet.

Liana insisted that it wasn't as bad as it sounded, being a waitress at a titty bar. Liana seemed to have no trouble showing off the goods, but she swore that I never had to do anything involving nudity or dancing. I just delivered drinks. But the fact that I had to dress provocatively while I waited tables was enough to make me feel ashamed. The whole thing was depressing and sad.

Since being told that this was my job, I hoped I would never have to go back to it ever again. There had to be other options than that. It wasn’t like the money was particularly good. Otherwise, why would I live in such a bad neighborhood in that shitty apartment?

I was the master of my own fate and knew that if I didn’t want to, I would never have to think of this job again. Yet, as I made my way toward the hospital, cutting through Central Park, an all too real reminder saw fit to kick me in the face and let me know where I belonged.

"Hey, Cherry!" I heard the name called out from behind me but didn't bother to respond. My name was Kate, after all, and thus, I saw no reason to.

"Hey, Cherry, slow down, will ya?" The voice called out again, this time closer. Again, I chose to ignore it, assuming that it was for someone else. Even still, I picked my pace up slightly as I powered through the park. That was until a hand grabbed me by the arm, spinning me around.

The owner of the hand was a very rough-looking gentleman, and I use that term only to be polite. In his fifties, with a scruffy beard, dirty gray hair, and sagging off-color skin, he looked as if he had spent the last few nights sleeping in the park. This was only confirmed by his clothes, which were filthy and stunk of B.O. and other odors that I didn't care to place.

"Cherry," he beamed, revealing missing teeth and terrible breath. "I thought it was you. Why didn't you slow down?"

"I'm sorry," I said gently as I pulled my arm from his grip. "I'm afraid that you have the wrong person."

I turned to go, only for him to grab me by the arm again. "No, no, it's me, Gerald. Remember? I used to be your favorite customer at the club. I was in there every weekend. You’d bring me a bottle champagne and sit with me while I drank it. That doesn’t ring a bell?”

I didn't get the sense of danger from him. He looked far too weak and feeble for that. But there was still an underlying dirtiness to his behavior. It was unwelcoming and something that I wanted to distance myself from as quickly as possible.

"Again, you're mistaken. That wasn't—"

"It was you!" he yelled, his temper rising. "Don't say it wasn't! Just because you aren’t wearing that red wig doesn’t mean I don’t recognize you!"

He stopped short. I don't know if it was the shocked, terrified expression in my face, or something else, but as quickly as he had exploded, he suddenly calmed down. "I'm sorry. Really, I am. I shouldn't have yelled."

He let go of my arm, and I pulled it into me like a lost babe. "That's fine," I said, my eyes scanning the area for any other signs of life. If I didn't think the man to be so unstable, I might have turned and run for it. But I didn't want to provoke him.

"You probably don't recognize me,” he said sadly. “I've changed a fair bit since then." He gestured at his clothes and general appearance. "A few bad investments, a wife that met another man, and a serious coke problem later, and here I am."

Despite myself, I suddenly felt sorry for the man. He fell to the ground in a slump, burying his head in his hands. I looked around, knowing that I could have run and easily gotten away. But instead, I crouched down, reaching out and patting him on the leg. "Hey, don't worry. It's not you really. It's me. I've been having a hard time with my memory lately."

"Really?" he asked, seeming a little more comforted by the information. "I thought you might have remembered. Reminds me of a better time, ya know?"

"I'm sure it was a lovely time," I tried, patting him on the leg again. To this he beamed, wiping his eyes.

"You seem like a smart lady. Let me give you some advice. Take what you can get, when you can get it. You never know when life is going to kick you in the balls, or wherever it is that life kicks you in."

I stayed with the man for a few more moments, just because he seemed to enjoy the company, and I felt bad for him. But after I left him, finally making my way toward the hospital, I couldn't stop thinking about what he said.

First off, the fact that he and I had been friendly at the strip club I worked at was disheartening. Liana had told me I never did anything but take orders and deliver drinks. But apparently, this man and I had been something like friends. He seemed comfortable enough with me to approach me and grab me out on the street. I didn’t like that one bit. Even if he was in a worse state now than before, he still seemed like the type of character that I would have usually tried to avoid.

But the main thing that stuck with me were his words of wisdom. He was right, too. When you had something worth holding on to, it was best not to let go. From what I could tell, my old life wasn't a desirable one, by any means. And the more I thought about it, the more I was inclined to think that maybe this bout of amnesia was one of the better things to happen to me.

Sure, I had no idea who I was. But did that matter? I knew now where I was going. I was going to be a writer. Seeing that customer only hammered home how terrible a life someone can have after a few bad mistakes are made, and I wasn't going to let my life be a cautionary tale for others.

On top of that, I had to count my blessings that I had Liam in my life now. He had a stable job and seemed to be crazy about me, especially for someone whom I had known for such a short time. But funnily enough, I was crazy about him, too. It felt like I had known him for ages, and to me, that was always a sign that I had found the right one. I mean, probably. I couldn’t remember finding the right one before. But somehow, even without a memory, I knew I was right.

With Liam by my side, supporting me, I was sure that I would never have to go back to that life that I had left behind. And more than that, I was sure that I would finally be able to achieve that life that I deserved. There wasn't much that love couldn't do.