Experience and intuition tell me, we must remain sober; the moment cannot allow us to relax our vigilance. I sat stiffly, trying to maintain distance from the men who smoked and drank around me. Suddenly, a hand patted my leg. My heart burst with disgust, but I managed to maintain a smile without adjusting my sitting position. I moved my legs closer to the edge of the door, trying to stay as far away from him as possible. I looked at the driver in front of me, okay, there was another person in this car, so that this misconduct by the man had to show some restraint. Finally, the car stopped outside a beauty parlor. As I was about to open the door, I was pulled back. His eyes revealed dirty desires.
The district director, this compass was a bit special. At night, he said, "Another day, you must take Bibi for a drink." After saying this, he quickly opened the door and got out of the car.
"District director, thank you for sending me back," I straightened up, stepped back, and waved. The reticent driver in the front seat never turned his head back, seemingly ignoring the words and deeds in the back seat. But this time, he started the car and left, taking that smelly man with itchy hands back to his wife and family.
Leaning against the light poles on the side of the road, I took deep breaths. The air was moist and cool, raining harder and more densely. A small puddle formed on the road, reflecting melancholy light. I let the rain wet my face, looked up, and felt coolness but also hot flashes ignited by alcohol. Tired of living, really tired. When will this day finally end? When can I return to being the real me?
Footsteps of passers-by on the street, striding, anxious, how? This time alone in the rain? Leaving, relying on the Okanagan lampposts, I turned to go to the beauty parlor. There, I was greeted by someone catching me.
I was surprised and was about to call out when a man’s face appeared, covering her mouth, and instinctively wanting to get rid of him. But at that moment, I saw who it was - it turned out to be him!
Standing under the street lamp, standing in the fine light rain, he stared at me, almost angrily staring at me. The blood vessels in his temples were raised, his lips tightly sipping, his prefrontal hair already wet, almost dripping water. What was he doing here? How long had he been here?
How did he know that I lived here? What did he want to do?
"Don't come back until late at night?" He pinched my arm painfully. I knew I couldn't break free easily, but I still wanted to struggle.