1. Monotonous Life!

*PRESENT*

[LIZZY]

“Lizzy, my tummy hurts…am I pregnant?”

With my jaw literally dropped on the floor, I watched and wondered with great horror if those words came out of his mouth were real or my fucking imagination.

I can’t believe he said that just now. That, too, while stuffing a mouthful of ice cream into his face.

“Joey!” I chided gently, watching as he ignored me and continued to devour the ice cream from the cup while rubbing his small tummy. “Why would you say something like that?” God, I was screwed if Laura was here to hear it. Thank goodness she wasn’t home yet.

“Our math teacher, Ms Watson, is taking a leave. She told us during class that she won’t be coming for the next three months and that we should behave well when the new teacher arrives.”

“Okay? But that didn’t answer my question,” I pointed out.

“That’s because I wasn’t done,” he frowned, licking at the spoon before neatly placing the cup back on the table.

“Sorry about that. Please continue.”

“OK. So, when she left, Maddie, the girl who sits next to me? She said that Ms Watson’s tummy had grown over the months and that it must be hurting her so much that she had to take a leave. But then Johnny, the one who sits behind me, leaned over and said, that his mom told him that Ms Watson was pregnant and maybe hurting too, that’s why she was taking a leave.”

Oh, my God. I couldn’t even begin to wrap my head around the way the brains of these kids worked. But that was the concern for another day.

“Joey, since how long has your stomach been hurting?” Pushing the chair back, I rounded the dining table and bent down to inspect the reason for his stomach ache.

He made a face. “Since lunch. I thought about telling you, but then I forgot.”

How could someone forget they were in pain?

Don’t engage! Don’t even dare!

I shook my head. “Joey, you should have told me. We could have visited the doctor,” I said, but then I paused.

Fuck, that was probably the reason he didn’t tell me in the first place. The last time we went to see the doctor with him having a high fever, he was given a shot. And Joey hated shots more than he hated beans and cats. He once told me that cats were the devil’s messengers (don’t ask me where he learned it, perhaps from his superstitious grandmother) and that he would rather pet a roach than waste money feeding a cat.

“And you ate the ice cream…” I mumbled to myself, realizing that he probably shouldn’t have. This little guy would rather bear terrible stomach pain than give up on his Saturday night treat. This time he demanded to try the Unicorn Vanilla flavour. Speaking of which, I should get rid of any ice cream proof before his parents come. They were oblivious to our secret deal to grab a cup of ice cream when his parents were out partying. It frequently happened on Saturdays, hence the name.

Yeah, pretty creative. I know.

I took a deep breath and exhaled hard through my mouth. “Alright. Come on, I’ll fetch you some warm milk quickly. It should be helpful.”

Joey leaped out of his chair, his little bare feet landing on the carpeted surface, nodding as though I made perfect sense. “OK.”

He took my hand in his small fingers and began leading me up the stairs. As if I were the one with an ache, rather than the other way around.

“Lizzy?” He called once we entered his room and switched on the lights.

“Yes?”

“Can we skip the bath tonight? I don’t feel like changing right now,” he pouted, turning to face me and biting his bottom lip.

“Why? What’s the problem? Is it because of the pain? Joey, please let me know if it hurts too much. We don’t need to go to the doctor; I can just call him for any medication you may need.”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Okay, so what is it then?”

“Did you know that only 1.2 percent of the water on Earth is drinkable? We must not waste it. “One shower should be enough.”

Now, how the hell was I supposed to convince him otherwise? I couldn’t just tell him to forget about the fucking nature. He would be vastly offended. He loved his earth and random facts he gathered from God knows where. Maybe I wasn’t cut out for this job after all. I should have taken that job at the café instead.

Sigh.

“Alright. But you need to change your clothes and brush your teeth,” I gave him a serious look, and he nodded, relieved. “I’m going to bring you the warm milk and then I’ll tuck you into bed. Sounds great?”

“Sounds awesome!”

“Good boy,” I grinned and he bounced on his feet. “Now, get to work.”

I switched off the lights and walked downstairs after ensuring he had finished the milk and slipped under the sheets. It took me about 10 minutes to tidy up the dining area and wash the dishes.

As planned, I trashed the ice cream cups and stashed them deep in the bin so his mother wouldn't be able to find them. Laura had a keen eye for such details. Nothing could escape her hawk-like stare. It was surprising she hadn’t caught us off guard on Saturday night treats. Could you imagine the lecture I’d have to sit through?

Shudders.

Once done with the work, I checked my phone for any messages from Laura or her husband, Daniel. And as I scrolled through the swamp of texts from my neighbour and Peter (a guy from the building across, the one who sends me his dog photos for some really weird reasons), sure enough, there was a text from Laura.

Laura: On our way. Sorry, got held up by some old friends. Has Joey slept?

Laura: Don’t worry, Daniel will drop you home. Thanks for tonight, Liz, you really didn’t have to.

The Text was sent around a half-hour ago. hey were probably on their way home right now. I contemplated whether or not to respond. But then I realized she must have gotten worried. With a deep breath, I started typing.

Lizzy: It’s OK. Joey slept. Take your time. No need to rush.”

I had just finished typing when I heard a car pull up outside. They were here.

I slung my bag over my shoulder, crossed the living room, and opened the door before either of them could ring the doorbell. Joey could have been startled. And as I came across Laura’s face, the same thought seemed to be passing her face, too.

“Goodness,” she exhaled, her lovely smile as bright as ever. “Late, aren’t we?”

“It’s alright,” stepping aside, I cleared the way so she could get in. “How was the get-together?” Laura had been going crazy about this high school reunion for the entire past week. Daniel had shown his reluctance to attend the gathering, but seeing how excited Laura seemed, he probably couldn’t gather up the courage to refuse. He was in love with his wife far too much. Something that made me happy and sad all at once.

You miss him.

No. I don’t.

Whatever floats your boat.

I rolled my eyes. Sometimes I really hated my conscious for being so bluntly honest. Couldn’t it sometimes care about my feelings, too? Did it have to take his side always? How unfair was that?

“Ah, it was crazy, don’t ask,” she shook her head, running a hand through her hair before tossing her purse on the couch. It bounced a few times before settling in one corner. “I’ll tell you everything tomorrow.”

“Great. Can’t wait.”

Before I could open my mouth to add and wish her good night, she lifted a finger and cut me off.

“Oh no, not tomorrow. How can I forget?” she sighed, rubbing her temple. “Joey’s granny is coming tomorrow. And you know what she thinks about a babysitter and all…” she trailed off as if what she left unsaid was something that I could understand.

She wasn’t wrong. I did understand. Joey’s granny was of traditional beliefs. She believed in raising kids by their parents only because no one else could understand their needs. Besides, it was necessary for the kid’s good mental and emotional growth to have their parents around. She believed people like me—young and unmarried—could probably never understand what it was like to raise a kid.

And even though not all of her beliefs were crappy, sometimes she made this unbearably difficultfor me.

Well, granny, and her old-fashioned beliefs can fuck themselves.

“No problem. I’ll take an off tomorrow. I have a few errands to run anyway,” I assured her and she returned with her honest, grateful smile.

“Alright. Daniel is waiting outside. You should really go now. And Lizzy?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for taking care of Joey tonight. I depend too much on you but…you know, I cannot trust anyone else either, right?”

“Of course,” I said with a smile, my chest warming from inside. “See you on Monday!”

Fifteen minutes later, I was sitting in my living room with a glass of wine in one hand and a phone in the other. Paying no mind as I scrolled down I*******m feeds.

Despite my unwillingness, Laura convinced me to sign up. had no idea what she had in mind, but all I did on social media was look through odd cat videos until I was exhausted enough to fall asleep. I didn’t even have a profile picture. I didn’t even have a profile pic. Or a bio. Everything was purposefully left blank, exactly as my life in the last six years.

I still couldn't believe it had been so long. I'm not even sure how I managed to keep my past buried for so long. Leaving Venice used to seem like a chore at first. To keep my head down and maintain a boring profile. To avoid drawing unwelcome attention. I was afraid he'd find out and come looking for me. Yet, as time passed, I became accustomed to my monotonous lifestyle. I didn't hear anything from him. Nothing, not even the whispers in the dark.

Perhaps I really left him behind.

Or maybe he just forgot about you.

Not helpful!

He was simply a presence in my fantasies these days. It was the time when his shadows would become tangible and he would punish me for what I had done.

Then again, he hadn’t shown up even once since I left. Was it possible that he never really cared? I knew, I was the one running away from him—hiding from him—but how difficult could it be for someone of his rank and power? He was a freaking mob man. He would have moved hell and heaven to find me if he truly felt the way I did.

But he didn’t.

He didn’t.

And as much as it hurt to realize that I was just another woman he needed to warm his bed, I was equally relieved that I finally left that life behind.

It didn't always feel that way, and maybe it was for the best.

I’d always wanted a normal life. But Venice couldn’t give me that. My life in Charlotte might be tiresome and monotonous, and I might have a job that I hate with my guts, but at least I owned it. It belonged to no one but myself. And I was fucking proud of that.