Chapter 4

"Maureen sweetie?" Joanne called out from the other side of the bathroom door. "Is everything alright?"

"I'm fine." Maureen replied with a shaky voice.

But she wasn't fine, her body was trembling, and tears were silently spilling from her eyes. Slowly she sank to the ground and crawled to the toilet. Her stomach didn't feel right, and her mouth began to develop a nasty taste. Finally her stomach turned, and as quick as she could she leaned over the toilet, and let everything spill out.

"Maureen?" Joanne called out again, the sound of her girlfriend getting sick making her worry. "I'm…I'm coming in!"

It wasn't long before Joanne picked the lock to the bathroom door, entering with great speed. With out thinking twice Joanne was by Maureen's side holding her hair, while rubbing soothing circles on the diva's back.

Finally Maureen stopped, her stomach now empty.

"Do you need anything?" Joanne asked.

Maureen flushed the toilet and leaned against the wall. "Water."

Joanne nodded and complied. She quickly filled a small cup with water and handed it to Maureen, watching as she used the water to rinse her mouth out.

Joanne slowly knelt in front of Maureen, her fingers gently tucking a stray hair behind her girlfriend's ear. "Are you okay?"

Maureen slowly nodded.

"Do you need anything else?"

"I just want to go to bed." Maureen replied in a raspy voice.

"Okay." Joanne replied while she stood up, and held out a hand for Maureen, who didn't accept it. Joanne didn't say anything and just watched as Maureen made her way back into the bedroom.

Joanne followed not to long after, and climbed into bed next to Maureen, who had her back turned to her. Joanne took in a deep breath and wrapped an arm around Maureen's waist; she however pulled away when she felt Maureen tense up and shift away from her. Sighing Joanne turned away and let Maureen have her space, and fell asleep wondering what was bothering her girlfriend so much.

Maureen didn't sleep a wink that night. She laid wide awake with tears trickling down her cheeks. She desperately wanted to cry out to Joanne, and have the lawyer's protective arms wrap around her, telling her it was going to be okay. But she couldn't, she was scared, and for the first time in a long time, she was embarrassed.

Maureen woke up the next morning to an empty bed. Sighing she rolled over and stretched taking a glance at the clock, which read eleven twenty three. Deciding it would probably be best to get out of the apartment, she dragged herself out of bed and began to get ready for the day.

Maureen slowly walked down the streets. Normally she was alert and focused on all the catcalls men would give her, or all the seductive glares she would get from the occasional woman. But today she was in no mood for any of that, and so she let her mind wander.

"Maureen?" A voice from behind her called out, causing her to leave her thoughts.

Maureen turned around, her eyes widening at the sight as she came face to face with her dad. "What do you want?"

"I want to talk to you." Mr. Johnson said.

"Well I don't want to talk to you." Maureen rudely replied and then turned to walk away.

"Maureen please?" Mr. Johnson begged while reaching out, grabbing the diva's arm.

Maureen yanked her arm away, and took a step back. "Don't touch me! You have no right touching me!"

"Okay, okay!" Mr. Johnson said, but he couldn't seem to resist tucking a piece of hair behind Maureen's ear. "I miss you." He softly said, and ran the back of his fingers down Maureen's cheek. "Remember how much fun we use to have together?"

Maureen couldn't help but feel overpowered by his touch. She wanted to run and hide, but the presence of her father wouldn't allow her to move.

"Just leave me alone." Maureen timidly said. "Things have changed, I'm not that little girl anymore…"

"You're still little to me." Mr. Johnson replied as his hand gently slipped under her chin, forcing Maureen to look at him.

Finally able to gather some strength, Maureen pulled away. "Leave me the fuck alone!" She said more firmly this time, and then bolted down the street and back to her apartment.