Warning: This story contains adult language, graphic violence, attempted
rape, attempted suicide, and sexually explicit themes. Reader's discretion
is advised.
Rating - R.
Disclaimer: I do not own Newsies or any of the Newsies characters. Apollonia, Giselle, Checkers, and other miscellaneous characters are all mine.
Chapter 10: Lonely
Giselle opened the doors to greet the many customers who were coming in for their morning coffee and book purchases. Placing orders, receiving shipments, handling the books, and serving the regulars were the order of the day. Giselle took over the bookstore while Apollonia was in grieving. She occasionally stayed with Apollonia to make sure that she was taken care of and to keep her best friend company. David would also drop by Apollonia's house to check up on her as well as Racetrack, Blink, Mush, Boots, Skittery, and other members of the Manhattan crew.
Of course, they were not the only ones. A variety of Brooklynites and residents of the Bronx, Harlem, Queens, Staten Island, Midtown and neighboring boroughs would come and pay their respects to Apollonia. She definitely needed the support of knowing that so many people from all over viewed her with as much reverence as they did Spot. They let her know that the spirit of the most famous and respected newsie in all of New York was in their hearts.
~
Staring into her own eyes within her own reflection, she fell deeper and deeper into the depths of their darkness. She did not recognize herself. She did not see the independent, fiery soul that she was known to be. Although ladylike with eyes that asserted kindness, she could mouth a salty remark at the drop of a dime. She could not believe this pain; it was driving her insane. Every night she needed his sweet caress to hold her while she lingered in shadows of her own depression.
She walked over to her lane chest. Slowly opening it, she reached in and retrieved a few articles. She inspected the gold-topped cane, caressing the top as she let her fingers feel the intricate design on it. She could even feel where he left his touch. She then picked up the slingshot that he would use as a weapon of defense. She remembered how he would take her to the docks and show her how to shoot marbles with it. She was a natural as she broke bottles into pieces try after try. Spot was impressed at her prowess with a slingshot. She looked back fondly on the memories of her late husband. Whenever she thought of all of the wonderful times they shared together, she could not help but smile at the tender memories of their courtship and marriage.
It kept playing over and over in her mind. She kept thinking about what Spot said to her before he died: I will always be with you. Live your life. You will never be alone. We will see each other again. The tears streamed down her face as she recalled some of the last words that escaped his beautiful lips.
Placing her head on the chest, she cried continuously. Her abandoned heart just couldn't understand. Her undying love for him would never let her wait. She could not wait until death decided it was convenient to reunite the two of them together. This was so unfair. She thought.
~
Dark and windy, the night was typical of New York. She looked out as she stood on the bridge. To her left was Manhattan, the borough she called home. To her right was Brooklyn; the borough that produced the man that she loved. She stood still in the darkness not caring that she was alone by herself in a city not known for safety. She did not care that anyone bigger than her could come along and snatch her away to some remote location and rape, mug, and murder her. She looked down into the water, watching the waves flow as she thought many morbid things. Sometimes she felt like jumping because she was tired of being sad and alone. Sometimes she felt like jumping because she wanted to see what it was like to fall. A physical fall, she reasoned, was better than a mental one. The physical one is quick and over in no time. Grasping onto the railing, she kept weighing the decision on whether or not to leap to her death.
"I can't do it." She said to herself. "I can't do it." She was strong, but not strong enough to end her life so suddenly. She then remembered how Spot once told her that her fire was one of the things that he loved about her. She smiled at the memory.
She then looked over towards Brooklyn and could just barely make out the docks. Those same docks where he brought her over to meet his newsies, where they stood and saw a shooting star, where he got down on one knee and proposed to her, and many other memories. She looked on as she also remembered the first time they made love, in the lodging house on the top floor. They also shared their physical love on the docks every once in a while to be adventurous. She marveled about how they were never caught by any of the other Brooklynites that inhabited the place. They would catch guys making love to their girlfriends more times than they could count. She reasoned that maybe they did catch them, but chose not to say anything. Spot's fury was just as well-known as his reputation. And who wanted a tough leader kicking their ass?
Apollonia's thoughts were many as was evident by the amount of time she stood there. "Apollonia!" She was startled by the loud, harsh remittance of her name. Giselle walked up to her with Racetrack trailing right beside her. Not realizing how late it was or how long she stayed, she immediately knew why Giselle and Racetrack came to see her. Giselle's stern expression was definitely a sign that she was not going to hear the end of it. As she got closer to her, Giselle's face quickly softened, seeing that Apollonia only wanted to be by herself for a while. Her eyes alone told the two of them that her thoughts were about her beloved.
"Come on, sweetheart. Ya gotta get outta here. It's too late in da night for you ta be walking around da city by yourself." Apollonia's face fell upon hearing Race's suggestion. She turned around one last time to look at the Brooklyn docks, that very same pier that was the threshold of the Brooklyn newsie existence. Draping his arm around her shoulders, Racetrack and Giselle walked with Apollonia between them all the way to the carriage.
Disclaimer: I do not own Newsies or any of the Newsies characters. Apollonia, Giselle, Checkers, and other miscellaneous characters are all mine.
Chapter 10: Lonely
Giselle opened the doors to greet the many customers who were coming in for their morning coffee and book purchases. Placing orders, receiving shipments, handling the books, and serving the regulars were the order of the day. Giselle took over the bookstore while Apollonia was in grieving. She occasionally stayed with Apollonia to make sure that she was taken care of and to keep her best friend company. David would also drop by Apollonia's house to check up on her as well as Racetrack, Blink, Mush, Boots, Skittery, and other members of the Manhattan crew.
Of course, they were not the only ones. A variety of Brooklynites and residents of the Bronx, Harlem, Queens, Staten Island, Midtown and neighboring boroughs would come and pay their respects to Apollonia. She definitely needed the support of knowing that so many people from all over viewed her with as much reverence as they did Spot. They let her know that the spirit of the most famous and respected newsie in all of New York was in their hearts.
~
Staring into her own eyes within her own reflection, she fell deeper and deeper into the depths of their darkness. She did not recognize herself. She did not see the independent, fiery soul that she was known to be. Although ladylike with eyes that asserted kindness, she could mouth a salty remark at the drop of a dime. She could not believe this pain; it was driving her insane. Every night she needed his sweet caress to hold her while she lingered in shadows of her own depression.
She walked over to her lane chest. Slowly opening it, she reached in and retrieved a few articles. She inspected the gold-topped cane, caressing the top as she let her fingers feel the intricate design on it. She could even feel where he left his touch. She then picked up the slingshot that he would use as a weapon of defense. She remembered how he would take her to the docks and show her how to shoot marbles with it. She was a natural as she broke bottles into pieces try after try. Spot was impressed at her prowess with a slingshot. She looked back fondly on the memories of her late husband. Whenever she thought of all of the wonderful times they shared together, she could not help but smile at the tender memories of their courtship and marriage.
It kept playing over and over in her mind. She kept thinking about what Spot said to her before he died: I will always be with you. Live your life. You will never be alone. We will see each other again. The tears streamed down her face as she recalled some of the last words that escaped his beautiful lips.
Placing her head on the chest, she cried continuously. Her abandoned heart just couldn't understand. Her undying love for him would never let her wait. She could not wait until death decided it was convenient to reunite the two of them together. This was so unfair. She thought.
~
Dark and windy, the night was typical of New York. She looked out as she stood on the bridge. To her left was Manhattan, the borough she called home. To her right was Brooklyn; the borough that produced the man that she loved. She stood still in the darkness not caring that she was alone by herself in a city not known for safety. She did not care that anyone bigger than her could come along and snatch her away to some remote location and rape, mug, and murder her. She looked down into the water, watching the waves flow as she thought many morbid things. Sometimes she felt like jumping because she was tired of being sad and alone. Sometimes she felt like jumping because she wanted to see what it was like to fall. A physical fall, she reasoned, was better than a mental one. The physical one is quick and over in no time. Grasping onto the railing, she kept weighing the decision on whether or not to leap to her death.
"I can't do it." She said to herself. "I can't do it." She was strong, but not strong enough to end her life so suddenly. She then remembered how Spot once told her that her fire was one of the things that he loved about her. She smiled at the memory.
She then looked over towards Brooklyn and could just barely make out the docks. Those same docks where he brought her over to meet his newsies, where they stood and saw a shooting star, where he got down on one knee and proposed to her, and many other memories. She looked on as she also remembered the first time they made love, in the lodging house on the top floor. They also shared their physical love on the docks every once in a while to be adventurous. She marveled about how they were never caught by any of the other Brooklynites that inhabited the place. They would catch guys making love to their girlfriends more times than they could count. She reasoned that maybe they did catch them, but chose not to say anything. Spot's fury was just as well-known as his reputation. And who wanted a tough leader kicking their ass?
Apollonia's thoughts were many as was evident by the amount of time she stood there. "Apollonia!" She was startled by the loud, harsh remittance of her name. Giselle walked up to her with Racetrack trailing right beside her. Not realizing how late it was or how long she stayed, she immediately knew why Giselle and Racetrack came to see her. Giselle's stern expression was definitely a sign that she was not going to hear the end of it. As she got closer to her, Giselle's face quickly softened, seeing that Apollonia only wanted to be by herself for a while. Her eyes alone told the two of them that her thoughts were about her beloved.
"Come on, sweetheart. Ya gotta get outta here. It's too late in da night for you ta be walking around da city by yourself." Apollonia's face fell upon hearing Race's suggestion. She turned around one last time to look at the Brooklyn docks, that very same pier that was the threshold of the Brooklyn newsie existence. Draping his arm around her shoulders, Racetrack and Giselle walked with Apollonia between them all the way to the carriage.
