Thursday Evening

Still writing this to do something different.

Thanks for reviews. I think this one is a little bit longer than the ones before.

Constructive Criticism is encouraged.

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At the counter he had said only one phrase, trite as it was, “same time, same place?” taken his food clumsily and left. I now had solid proof that he ate, if nothing else.

I spent the better part of the weekend cleaning my apartment. Now, after years of ignoring it, I was finally listening to my mother’s advice on keeping it clean for “love interests.”

How she would cry if she knew.

Then, I did something I would never have thought about doing before I met him. I calculated the amount of money I would have spent on him until this time. I withdrew the amount, so that I’d have enough, no matter the price. Maybe that’s why I’d kept the second job, just in case something like this happened. Or maybe I just liked the swelling bank account.

Then, it was Thursday. I was shaking now, anxious because it had been too long. I’d stressed over my hair, my nails, and everything else about my appearance. At the same time, I knew I looked far better than I had normally when I’d had him.

I saw him easily enough. He wore a trench coat and looked bored. He seemed more ordinary than he had on all those other Thursdays.

He gets in the car, and smiles at me, revealing all of his white teeth. I reach into my pocket and try to hand him the large sum. His smile falters, and he’s staring at me, and the money, in shock. Perhaps he wasn’t expecting this.

“I don’t-” he began, looking as anxious and torn as I now did, “do that for that. Anymore.” He paused as I put away the money. “Take me home.”

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I had stared at the name tag for what seemed like an eternity. I was laughing too hard inside to do anything else. His name? Jon. I had stood there, just thinking, silently laughing at the most ironic event ever to happen to me. Jon was my John. Jon had always been my John.

I could only say, “Same time, same place?” before I left. I struggled with the food, still amused. At the potluck, my euphoria at finding out his name wore off, and I regretted not saying something with more wit. Or having the foresight to suggest his place. I didn’t want to go back there. To that corner. I was afraid. I was afraid that corner would suck me back in. Like a black hole, or something.

But, this was the true test. This tests his fallibility. If he shows up, like he has every other Thursday, I can trust him. And if not… I didn’t want to think about that.

I have to tell him why. And how this happened. And why I quit. I’ve been wanting to for months now. Just for a chance like this. He’s the only one who deserves an explanation.

Thursday seems like the day I’ve always lived for. At least, since I moved here. Time cannot fly quickly enough.

I dressed conservatively before I left. It was not because I was cold, though I knew it would be. Nobody recognized me, but I didn’t recognize anyone either.

I was early. But that didn’t matter, because so was he.

I smiled after getting into the car. I was glad to see him, but it was partially forced. I was nervous. But I get too nervous to smile as he tries to hand me money. A LOT of money. More than I’ve been offered, it looks like. More than anybody else I know has been offered.

I didn’t know what to say. “I don’t… do that for that. Anymore.” I added, slightly ashamed. He stuffs the money back into his pocket. “Take me home.”