Chapter 4

• Before I could open my eyes, I noticed his absence in the bed. The only trace of his presence was the lingering scent of his cologne on the pillow.
• I smile and run my hands over my face, recalling the best details of last night. It had been unique, wonderful, and it would give me long showers.
• I jump out of bed and lift the mattress. I grab the key to the padlock and go to the closet. After unlocking the small padlock, I take out lingerie, jeans, and a sweatshirt. I lock it again and head to the bathroom.
• There was only a shower, a small sink with a mirror above it, and a toilet. I place my clothes on the toilet and step into the shower. I let the warm water run down my body and don't move a muscle. I feel some twinges in my neck. It's as if Gavin is there, grazing his beard against it while his hand touches my intimacy.
• I shake my head and sigh.
• Why am I thinking about him? He was just a client. Just another client.
• I finish the shower quickly, avoiding thinking about Gavin again. I dry myself off and put on the chosen outfit. After brushing my teeth, I comb my black hair and tie it up in a high ponytail. I return to the room and pull out a pair of black mid-calf boots from under the bed. As I finish putting them on, I hear two knocks on my door.
• "Come in," I say.
• "Hey, friend!"
• It was Maitê, my best friend around here.
• "Where are we going today?"
• "I don't know!" I get up. "I just want to get out of here and take a walk."
• She looks at me suspiciously with those big brown eyes.
• "Why? I heard your night was pretty amazing."
• "What do you mean? Well, let's talk about it outside."
• I grab a small bag and leave the room with her. It was about ten in the morning, so hardly anyone was awake. The night had been long.
• "Now spill!" Maitê exclaims as we step into the London cold. "What did you do with him?"
• "You know what happens in the room."
• She huffs.
• "The man didn't leave until six in the morning. They never leave when the sun is coming up."
• Six in the morning?
• "Seriously?"
• "You didn't know?" I shake my head negatively and cross the street. "Wow... but how was it?"
• "Friend, it was... different. I felt it. It was the most intense thing I've ever experienced in my life. The sensation... it was the craziest thing. Wow..." I let out a laugh.
• It was just a matter of closing my eyes, and the images from last night invaded my mind.
• I signal for the bus approaching, and we hop on.
• When I go out for a stroll, I don't usually stay around the house. Those shopkeepers there don't respect us. They insult us and kick us out. So, I prefer to take a bus and go to the other side of the city.
• "And when will he come back?" she asks.
• "I don't know."
• "You didn't talk about it?"
• I look at her.
• "We didn't talk about anything! Well... he asked for my real name. I was intimidated. But then everything went well."
• "You told him?"
• "What?"
• “Your name.”
• "Are you crazy?" I raise my voice. "Never!"
• "Calm down!"
• I take a deep breath.
• I don't like it when people talk about my name or ask me to open up. The answer will always be NO to those things. Given everything I've been through, I prefer to keep to myself.
• She starts talking about how last night was in her room.
• Maitê's accent was funny. She's Brazilian. According to her, she came to London over a year ago under false pretenses.
• She was promised a job as a waitress, and since she was in need of money after being fired from a job, she accepted. But when she arrived here, she was forced to work on the streets. Astrid saved her from that. She spent a good amount of money to get her off the streets and take her home.
• "Shall we go to a bookstore?" I ask as we get off the bus.
• "First, let's eat because I'm starving."
• We enter the first café in front of us. It wasn't a famous or crowded café, but rather one of those old-fashioned ones.
• We sit on the high stools, and a waitress approaches.
• "What would you like?"
• "Pancakes with a cappuccino," I order.
• "The same," Maitê says.
• The girl smiles at us and walks away.
• "Oh, friend..." Maitê stretches. "I'm tired. I wanted a day off today."
• "Was it a tough night?"
• "Three of them."
• "Wow," she laughs. "New ones?"
• "And handsome. It was someone's birthday."
• "Hahaha, lucky you."
• "Are you complaining about that man?" She widens her eyes at me.
• "Never."
• I smile at her and focus my gaze on the dirty wood of the counter. Anytime was the time to think about last night. To think about his kisses. To think about his large hand touching me.
• How I wished to experience that again.
• "Mag!" Maitê calls.
• "What?"
• "Your order."
• I look at her confused, and then she points to the counter.
• "Oh..."
• I try - in vain - to push away the memories of yesterday and start eating. It was really good. Pancakes with caramel were truly addictive. I couldn't live without them anymore.
• "Shall we?" Maitê asks after she pays for our meal.
• "Yes."
• I hop off the stool and link our arms. We leave the café and walk a few kilometers to the mall.
• It was Sunday, almost lunchtime, and the place was crowded.
• "Look, so many cute guys!" Maitê whispers, looking at the boys who passed by us.
• They were really handsome. But I couldn't see myself engaging in a shopping mall flirtation.
• Not being who I am.
• "Let's just go to the bookstore already."