MICHAEL

“You stupid boy. You worthless human, you will never amount to be anything in this world…

Do yourself a favor and just die already”

I woke up with a start I always have nightmares, more like memories of my childhood. My parents were very emotionally abusive calling me names and wishing me death because they wanted a girl child and I was born a boy. It’s been 5 years since my escape, I ran away from the only home I have ever known.

Well there was nothing that I could do but to just run as fast and as far as I could. To get away from the people who were supposed to love me unconditionally to love me no matter what, But no they didn’t because they wanted a daughter, but gave birth to a boy, me the worthless piece of garbage that will never be anything in this world… I actually believed everything that they said until I met my good and only friend Marcus. He ran away from home too when he was 15 years old, Because he came out to his parents and they didn’t accept him. His mother called him all sort of names and he always felt worthless in her eyes, And he got bullied at school. So he left everything and just ran away, he is been living by himself for eight years now.

He found me on the street one night. I have been on the streets for over five days when he found me by the dumpster searching for food. And he had told me not to be afraid, he will take care of me because like him he knows what I am going through, and that was five years ago.

“Mikey! Are you awake yet? I made breakfast you are going to be late for work.”

“ I hear Marcus calling me from the kitchen.” Marcus makes sure that every morning he makes breakfast for the both of us.

“ I’ll be there in a sec !” I tell him as I get out of bed, I work at a dinner not far from our apartment. I have been working there for three years now because it was the only job that I could find that didn’t need any qualifications.

I go to the bathroom that Marc and I share. We are in a two bedroom apartment that has a small kitchen and small sitting area with only one bathroom. With Marc and I’s budget it’s the only thing we can afford. In the bathroom I turn on the shower to my desired temperature, then I jump in. Taking a five minute shower. I dry my self then go back to my room to get dressed. I wear black skinny jeans and long sleeve shirt and black Converse sneakers.

“ Yay he Is finally awake!” Shouts Marc as I enter in to the kitchen.

“ Morning to you too Marc how was your night?’ I ask as I take an apple off the table.

“ No! you have to eat real food not leafs. I can see your ribs through this shirt you have to eat. “ Marc has made it his mission to feed me, always telling me he could see my ribs through my clothes.

“ Yes mother I’ll grab something from the dinner” I tease him as he shakes his head in amusement.

“Haha very funny I made breakfast now eat “ he tells me as he sits down to have breakfast.

“No really I am not that hungry. “

Marc looks at me for a second before continuing to eat.

I’m still not used to eating and people being polite to me so sometimes Marc has to remind me that I’m not in that house anymore, that I am not a slave in his house, But yeah that is taking long for me to get used to. Especially with all the nightmares I get every night I always feel like they will find me at anytime.

“-Tomorrow “ I catch the last of Marc’s words as he walks out the door. I realize that I spaced out and Marc had just left. Marc works in a restaurant while taking himself through school. He has dreams of working in a corporate world.

I get up and tidy up the kitchen before I leave.

I get to work in time. I go to the back as I greet Stacy one of the employees here, she Is very mean and very much remind me of that place . She has noticed that I am scared of her and she uses it to her advantage especially when Maria is not around and makes me do my job and hers too.

Maria is the owner , A sweet fifty-something year old women who treats us like her own children. She doesn’t have children of her own so she loves to help anyone who is in need of help, she doesn’t know my whole story but she was willing to help and hire me so I can be able to make ends meet so I’ll be able to help Marc with rent and other bills.

I hear the bell from the door chime. Then I look up after I hear a gasp from Stacy. I see four men enter they all look very important and wealthy, they all look like they belong in a fancy restaurant not in this dinner . I am about to take the breakfast menu to them when Stacy rushes over to them before I do and takes their order.

All four men have this aura that is very unsettling. One of them spoke to Stacy without even looking at her as he made his order. He ordered four coffees on behalf of his associates.

She comes back swaying her hips and smiling. Always trying to seduce any man that walks in through the door.

“ Damn they are hot, If I can get my self a handsome and wealthy man like that I won’t have to work in this dump any more and see your ugly face again”

She comments as she fixes their drinks.

I just kept quiet and not bothered by her comment as I continue packing the fresh pastries for today.

During lunch hour it can get very busy but today there were less traffic and I didn’t stand on my feet the whole day. My mind would sometimes drift to those strange men who walked in here this morning. They have never been here before. They gave off this dark and this unsettling presence and Stacy didn’t seem to notice or she didn’t care.