Emma
After my shift finally ended, I rushed back to the employee lounge. I unlocked my locker, and quickly put my coat on. I grabbed my purse and slammed the locker shut. I rushed out of the diner before any customers arrived.
I speed walked up the long hill and headed to the sidewalk. The best thing about New York is that its full of life, and light. Although, the city is cramped with tall skyscrapers and shopping stores, it's my home and the place I love. It was Bae's too. I wish he truly saw this city as our home, not something that can be thrown away easily. 'I miss that jerk so much.'
Once I arrived to my apartment. I quietly walked inside, and tip toed my way to the hallway. 'Whew. Mr. "Grumpy" isn't here.' I rushed my way up the stairway, and walked straight to my apartment room. I dug my hand in my purse, searching for the keys. "Finally, your here." I lifted my head. My land lord stood by the right side of the hallway. My land lord is a very cranky man. I'm serious, everybody loathes him and calls him Grumpy. We been calling him that for years, nobody remembers his real name anymore. Not that it really matters.
Grumpy walked toward me. "I need your rent, Miss Swan. Your a month behind." "I'll pay next week. That's when I'm getting my salary." "You are aware that I'll raise the price." "Isn't that the way it always goes, sir," I said innocently. Grumpy scowled. "Don't play innocent with me? I own your home, remember that." "I known it all my life." "Yeah, that time started with your little boyfriend. Whatever happened to him? Oh yeah, he left you. He was a clever man to leave a wrench like you." My hands gripped tightly to a fists. I am so tempted to cut the slacks off his crouch with my keys. But I'll be kissing my apartment good - bye, that's the last thing I would want. Grumpy smiled by my reaction. "Mad now, are you? You should be doing your job instead moping to death. You can't even raise your boy right." "Hey! Don't say such thing to my kid. He's my son. And I am a good mother. You have no idea what I go through every day. So don't you dare judge my family's life."
Grumpy chuckled. "Family? You consider your run away boyfriend your family. His probably with another Blondie And that son of yours, will end up in a life your living in. So you still call your call yourself a good mother. You can't afford to pay the rent of your apartment, this also shows the other things you can't afford for you and your son." I fell silent. I abhor Grumpy terribly - his cranky behavior, annoying practical jokes, and his usual visits to each apartment room for rent. However, everything he said are right. I am not a good mother. Bae probably didn't love me anymore, or not as much to remain at home with me and Henry. The thought of him being with another woman makes me sick. I could also visualize Henry ending up like me, I think about his future every day. Even though I know I can't make anything better for my son.
After Grumpy poured out another negative opinion about me, my voice urged to reply something that will drive Grumpy insanely angry. "At least I have a family. Unlike you, your wife left you too. She's in the nunnery now, isn't she." Grumpy turned around. His furious expression is a signal he is ready to punch me. But I continued, I just have this urgency in my chest that I need to let go. "Your wife didn't love you that much either. She devoted herself toward the lord Almighty. If you call her your wife, how could she leave you for a "charitable career." Huh! Answer me that, Grumpy." Grumpy's fist hit my right cheekbone hard. His fist stroke me again, but on the other side of my cheeks. I grabbed his wrists, but he yanked them off, that caused me to collapse on the ground. My vision is blurry, and unsteady. But I heard a door quickly open. "Mom! Help! Please help me!" Henry shouted. I tried to sit up straight, but my head started to throb, weighing me straight back down on the ground. "Shut up kid!" Grumpy hissed. Suddenly, I heard Henry struggle to scream. 'That idiot is hurting Henry!' Thankfully, everybody opened their doors. Four people helped us. Two men separated Grumpy from Henry, and the other two helped me inside my apartment. And lowered me down on my bed.
Once my vision was a little steady, one of my neighbor - Jimmy sat by my bed. "Hey, Emma are you okay?" I nodded. "I'm fine." "One of the guys called the police to handle the situation." I quickly sat up from my bed. But I stopped for a moment, the nausea is starting to throb in my head. Jimmy placed a hand on my shoulder, and gently pushed me back on the bed. "Emma, don't push yourself too hard." "I'm fine, Jimmy. But really, I don't want the police to get involved with this. I just crossed the line with Grumpy, that's all." "Well, Emma it's too late now. The police are on their way. Besides, the idea of the police getting involved is not necessarily for just your sake and Henry's, but also for the other people in this apartment. What happened to you could had been anybody. Even me." I squeezed my eyes shut. 'The police already knows me, Jimmy. I already have a large pile of arrest warrants. It will take ten thousand witnesses for the police to believe a man assaulted me.' But I didn't say this to Jimmy, I just nodded.
Jimmy is a psychologist. I don't know why he lives a place like this. The money he makes is five times more I make every month. His a sweet man, but the life style he chooses to live is kind of weird.
Henry walked toward my bed. He climbed up on the bed, and carefully placed an ice pack against my cheek. "Are you okay mom?" "I'm fine. I'm sorry I scared you back there." "It's okay, mom. I'm glad you don't have any fractured bones." "I'm relieved about that too." Jimmy padded my hand. "If you need anybody to talk to, you know where to find me." "Thank you, Jimmy." Jimmy nodded, and brushed Henry's hair. But he suddenly froze. He looked at Henry, and then back at me. His round owl spectacles flashing by the light. I frowned at him. "What's wrong, Jimmy?" "Nothing. It's just that...I don't mean to be rude, but you both grown thinner." I looked at Henry, pretending to play "dumb." "I don't see it." Jimmy gave me a look. The expression is blended with sorrow, and disappointment. I think his aware that Henry and I are close to be thrown to the streets. "My mistake. Good night." "Good night," the two of us said as he headed out the door.
Henry lay beside me. His arms curled around my left arm. "Mom, please don't fight with the land lord again." The room suddenly fell dark. 'Grumpy that schmuck.' Henry curled up beside me. "Henry I'm sorry you heard all that and the trouble I caused." "That's alright mom. That's alright." I stroked Henry's hair. "I'm really sorry that you have a mother like me." "What? Mom don't say that." I pressed Henry close to my chest, and embraced him tightly as tears fell down my face. "I'm so sorry." I whispered. Those three words were the only thing I could say as large drops of tears fell down my face. And soon I felt Henry's against my skin. The two of us lay there in the cold, dead silent room.