Leaving The Pieces Behind

by R. M. Demeester

  "Have you applied at West Hill Bakery?"

  His words raised my spirits. Did he read my mind? Maybe this day would turn out all right.

  "I did, but I received no reply."

  "What's your name?" he inquired. He stood towering, and I stood stiff and reticent. When I didn’t answer, he quickly added, “I'm friends with the owner. I'll put in a good word.”

  Holy shit, this can’t be real! My mouth opened, but no sounds came out.

  “Sorry,” he said, and held out his hand.

  I returned the gesture, fingers trembling and wrist limp.

  “My name is William. Should have known better and introduced myself, being a stranger and all."

  "I'm Serenity. Serenity Rupert." My voice was rough, and I drew in a sharp breath, struggling for my poise.

  I could have sworn he swallowed hard as he pulled a business card from his pocket and passed it to me.

  "My cell number is on there. Let’s keep in touch. I'm heading to West Hill this afternoon, and I'll put a good word in for you, Miss Rupert."

  "Thanks!"

  He glanced at his wristwatch. “I’d better get going; I hope you have a good day!”

  I blushed, nodding silently. My mind was going a million miles per hour. There was no way I could deliver a rational response. William smiled, turned, and walked down the alley.

  What had just happened? Maybe my luck had turned. Something about meeting William gave me hope.

  When I got home, I texted the number he had given me, thanking him again and apologizing for being such a dumbass.

  That night, I hardly got any sleep for wondering if my luck had changed. I pinched myself a couple times just to make sure that this wasn't a dream. When I roused in the morning, I had a text from William.

  I talked to the owner at West Hill and arranged an interview this afternoon if you're still interested.

  Yes, thank you, I responded.

  We sent a few more texts back and forth. My gut coiled in hard knots because I wanted to call and properly thank him, but I couldn't afford to pay my phone bill as it was.

  I left the bedroom and rushed passed my other disgruntled roommate, Crystal, and into the bathroom before she could get there. I latched the door. Staring in the mirror, the dark circles under my amber eyes disclosed a lack of sleep. I hope William didn't think I was a junkie or something. I turned on the sink faucet and sloshed water on my face. If I had more time, I'd hop into the shower. But time wasn't on my side. Swearing at myself for my lackluster time management skills only reassured me of every darn thing they used to tell me as a child. Maybe I needed to start proving them wrong.

  Crystal knocked on the door. "Are you almost done in there?"

  "I'll be out in a second,” I mumbled, then turned off the nozzle.

  I reached into the cabinet drawer and took out Sophia's eye concealer. The only perk of living with her is that we shared almost the same skin tone. I slathered on a layer of concealer under my eyes and a little on my cheekbones, covering my freckles. A few would be all right, but my face was covered with those small, brown specks.

  "I really need to use the bathroom, Serenity."

  "Coming." I shoved the concealer back in its place and opened the door.

  The blonde wannabe-model scooted past me and closed the door behind her. If I hadn’t been so desperate for a place to live, I wouldn’t have chosen a bunch of college students to bunk up with. I spun down the hallway to the common area.

  Sophia was curled up in a little ball, her nose in a book. She glanced up. “Hi, Serenity! Have the rent by Friday.”

  I didn’t respond as I took a seat on the other side of the couch. As if reminding me yesterday wasn’t enough. I hated it when she treated me like a nitwit. In the year I had lived here, I paid my rent on time, every month. Who wanted the risk of being homeless weighing down on them? Going from home to home as a child was enough. No one would choose the same fate as an adult.

  “Did you hear me?”

  My eyes flashed to hers. “Yes, I heard you.” I picked up the remote and flipped through the few channels on the television.

  “Nothing is on!” she grumbled, flipping the pages of her book. She sank her nails into the paper to create the loudest screeching noise imaginable.

  “I heard you,” I repeated to divert her. She shot me a dirty look; a sinister energy slithered into the room. I wasn’t in the mood for any pettiness.

  I got up and headed to my bedroom, the only four walls in the house where I could be alone. My only place of comfort. I lay on my bed and pulled the bedspread over my head. If William hadn’t secured the interview, I would have slept in. But I had to get up.

  This job could solve all my problems.

  My phone vibrated. I reached over just as a long-distance number flashed on my screen. Likely, it was someone needing money. Something I didn't have. Yet another reminder of my dwindling bank account.

  Putting my phone aside, I studied the room for things to pawn. My eyes roamed over the worn discman I’d found in an online ad for free. Then there was my CD player; a gift from some of my foster parents one year. I'd be lucky to receive five or ten dollars for it. Along with the player, I had a dozen CDs in mint condition. Maybe I could earn a dollar a piece for them.

  Even if I scraped up enough funds to pay my rent, what would I do for food or a bus pass?

  I’d been helping myself to Crystal’s produce and a few crackers from the cupboard. So far, she hadn’t caught on, and I didn’t want to push my luck. I reached into the drawer beside my bed, searching for something to eat. There was no candy or peanuts in sight. My stomach rumbled in agony. I was so hungry.

  I still had an hour left before my interview. Maybe if I showed up early, I would make a good impression. I couldn't let William down after putting himself out there for me. An icy chill rushed up my back; just the mere mention of his name swept me off my feet and made me anxious. In a good way, I thought. My mind still couldn't wrap around how someone could do something nice for a stranger, especially a nobody like me.

  I sighed and got out of bed, prepared to trek downtown again.

  West Hill Bakery was six blocks away on Main and Fifth Street. I decided walking was best. I trudged along, reenacting what I would say and do when I met him. I froze a block from the bakery as beads of sweat dotted my forehead. I scurried and texted William. I didn’t know what the owner's name was, or who to ask for. I moved to stand in front of an accounting corporation.

  Five minutes later, he texted me back. Hank.

  I thanked him, and the weight lifted off my shoulders.

  William had come to my rescue again. If I got this job, I’d owe him big time.

  I strolled through the doors with five minutes to spare and looked around. An array of loaves and cakes were on exhibit. An older man strode up to the cash register behind the long counter.

  “May I help you, miss?”

  “Yes. I have an interview with Hank.”

  I stood up straight and straightened my shoulders. On the outside, I wanted to project confidence, but on the inside, I concealed a tornado of insecurity. If anyone could screw this up, it’d be me.

  “Oh, yes! William told me all about you. Why don’t we go to my office for a little chat?”

  I grinned, nodding as I accompanied him through the kitchen. The pastry chefs paused and stared as I strolled past. After we reached the office, Hank closed the door and pointed to a chair in front of his desk. “Please have a seat.”

  I did as directed. He left the room for a moment and returned with a hot beverage and a donut, which he offered to me.

  My eyes widened in shock as I reached for it. “Thanks!” Normally, I would have declined, but I was so hungry.

  I held the donut between my thumb and middle finger. I’d wait until after the interview to eat it. As much as I wanted to, I knew I couldn’t risk looking desperate.

  Hank sat down. “So, you worked at George’s Bakery?”

  “
Yes, for two years.”

  “Why did you leave?”

  “I was laid off. A bunch of us were.”

  He nodded. “I heard you make a good cake.”

  I smiled at the compliment, warmth spreading across my cheeks. “I’ve been told that, yes.”

  My nerves settled a little, although I couldn’t help but wonder what else William had said about me.

  “If you are still looking for a job, we just happen to have a full-time baker position.”

  “Yes!” I said, perhaps a bit too eagerly. “Yes, please.”

  I could have slapped myself for being so darn rude. This man didn’t owe me a damned thing.

  “Serenity, correct?”

  “Yes, Serenity Rupert.” My heart fluttered with hope. I could feel the job was already mine.

  “How about you start tomorrow, at 5 AM?”

  Was this a test? A trick? My throat was dry, but I pressed on anyway. “Sounds great. Thank you!” I nearly croaked. “Thank you so much! You have no idea!”

  He frowned as he stood, and we shook hands. “Glad to have you aboard,” he added, and showed me back to the front.

  Once I was outside, away from the bakery, I did a little dance in pure excitement. I couldn't even give a damn about what anyone thought. I couldn’t believe I had a job. My luck was changing, and soon I would be out of the dark hole these past few months had brought me. I proved them wrong. I proved them all wrong.

  ***

  The following morning, my alarm went off at 4 AM on the nose. I forced myself to sit up. Wiping away the sleep from my eyes, I looked out the window at the pitch-black sky. This would take some getting used to. I stumbled out of bed before heading to the bathroom.

  I turned on the shower, letting the steam fill the bathroom, then stepped under the scorching stream. I couldn’t thank William enough for getting me this job, I thought, as I reached for the shampoo bottle. My body relaxed, melting beneath the warmth. For the first time in too long, I felt alert. Once my hair was clean, I turned off the tap. As much as I wanted to stay, I couldn’t be late for work.

  I left the house at four forty. Twenty minutes would be more than enough time to walk to the bakery, especially with the streets being deserted. The benefit of early mornings, I guess. In my early years, I walked everywhere. Mom didn’t have a license and couldn’t afford a bus pass most months. In the middle of winter, we would walk up to ten blocks in subzero weather to the grocery store.

  I approached the street the bakery was on. In the distance, a dark-colored car was parked outside of the building. The pit in my stomach ached as I approached.

  The driver’s door opened.

  Maybe it’s just the owner or another employee, I thought. I slowed down my pace, inching up to the walls of the building, as far away from the curb as possible.

  As I approached the bakery’s front door, William stepped out of the parked car with a steaming Styrofoam cup in hand.

  “Good morning,” he said.

  I smiled. “Hello.” I was glad to see him, but why was he here? And how did he know I’d be here so early? Of course, Hank must have told him, I convinced myself.

  He handed me the cup. “I was on my way to work and saw you walking. My barista made me an extra hot chocolate, so you can have it.”

  “Thank you.” My heart fluttered. “You’re so nice to me.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck and looked away. “Have a good first day. Nice talking to you, Serenity. I’ll text you later.”

  “Talk to you later.”

  Where did this ray of sunshine come from? It was as if he fell from the sky and landed in my lap. It almost seemed too good to be true.

  After he left, I took a few sips of the hot beverage, feeling uneasiness creep up. While it was nice to see him, his motives seemed unclear. He always seemed to be a mystery, coming in at just the right moment. A white knight I knew I didn’t deserve. I checked my phone.

  I had only a few minutes before my shift and no time to ponder.

  Chapter 2

  My first day off had arrived after three days of work. My body screamed in exhaustion as if I had been hit by a truck. I knew I shouldn't complain. I was working now, with a steady income, but my body was out of tune. This new routine would take some getting used to. Despite it all, I felt relief. Finally, things were looking up. I managed to gather the funds needed for rent.

  The bus pass and cell phone bill would have to wait until the money started coming in.

  I spread out on my bed to play a game of solitaire. At this point, it was all the nightlife I experienced anymore.

  I wanted to watch television in the common area, but that meant I'd have to deal with Crystal and Sophia. Later, they'd bring home some hot guy from a campus party. They'd show him off, taunting me. Maybe without knowing. I wished I could have a comfortable life like those two, with regular friends and minimal worry about money. Being born into poverty, then taken from my family and tossed from foster home to foster home didn’t provide stability. It certainly didn’t provide guidance. It didn't allow me to go to school tuition-free, either.

  I rechecked my phone. William had texted me again. A fluttering feeling invaded me on the inside. How would I describe William and me? Friends? Soon-to-be lovers? Nah. He was a guardian angel who stepped into my life at the most random of times, got me a job, and kept coming around. So many people had come and gone from my life, I couldn’t keep track of who was there forever, and who was only there for a brief moment. But that didn’t stop me from hoping things would be different with him.

  I checked the text.

  Chocolate or Glazed?

  I stared at the text. What a random message. Did he mean donut?

  I swiftly texted him the question. Maybe that was what he was talking about. We seemed to bond over dessert foods. Or maybe he had a hidden sense of humor. Most of our chit-chat was innocent; a lot of small talk and friendly conversation that wasn’t quite flirting. It continued to confuse me, as did the intentions of our budding relationship.

  Yes, donut. Which one? I prefer Glazed.

  I chuckled and sent back, Glazed as well.

  At the bakery, chocolate cakes were the top sellers. Even at George's, the amount of chocolate frosting we went through was outrageous. With history repeating itself, I'd been going around smelling like frosting, but day in and day out it becomes repulsive. A glazed donut, on the other hand, delicious. It was the definition of heaven.

  Up for a late-night snack… If you’re not too busy

  I chuckled. Busy! That was funny. I was too poor to be busy doing anything. I wondered what his intentions were. Was he asking me out on a date? Maybe he was hinting at something more. My arms trembled, wondering if he would turn out like the others. The few men I had dated just wanted me for one thing, and I wasn't about to give it up so fast. I kept telling myself that I would speak up, even if it meant walking home alone in the dark. However, William might view me in a different light. Or, he might stop talking to me when he realized how shy I was. I bit my lip and responded.

  Sure!

  I hit my forehead. What was I saying? I had no money. Quick damage control.

  How about a walk by the park? I don’t have a lot of money.

  That’s fine.

  Okay.

  Meet you in twenty, how about in front of the bakery?

  I changed into a turtleneck and pair of jeans. Some earrings and an infinity scarf completed my look. I felt compelled to impress him, even if we were just friends—or were we acquaintances? I didn’t even know what to call him.

  I closed and locked my bedroom door before heading through the living room to the front door.

  Sophia sat on the couch.

  “Where are you going?” She had a notebook and papers scattered around her.

  “Out!”

  She shook her head and turned her focus to her school work.

  I had my phone in one pocket and a pack of gum in the other, just in case my mouth beca
me dry. Crossing the street, I headed down a deserted side street with burnt-out street lights and boarded up buildings. Halfway down the street, a slight breeze whistled through the trees. I trembled.

  Passing an alley, two shadowy figures emerged. The reflection in a parked car mirror revealed them following me. I felt my pace quicken to match the speed of my racing heartbeat. Whoever these people were, I had no doubt they meant trouble.

  I was just three and a half blocks from the bakery. I crossed another street, and the footsteps followed. My heart sped up, and goosebumps formed. I told myself to keep calm. Maybe they just happened to be going the same direction I was; it could be a coincidence. My insides twisted as I struggled to accept that improbable possibility. Once again, I crossed the street. Out of nowhere, they sprinted toward me. Panicked, I pulled out my cell phone from my pocket.

  My hands shook as if they had a mind of their own. Pulling my phone into my hand as calmly as I could, I tried to dial William’s number, hoping he was nearby. The meeting spot was close, so maybe I could have him come this way. Another presence might scare them off. The phone started ringing as I tripped over my feet and landed face first into the pavement. My phone slid several feet away.

  You’ve got to be kidding me! I thought.

  A female voice echoed in my ear. "Check her pockets."

  I tried to roll away, but a foot to my back stopped that idea. I flailed as a hand dug into my pocket. “Help!” I tried screaming, but a hit to the head silenced me.

  "All she has is a pack of gum," another voice shouted.

  I heard a loud sigh. "Let's take her phone and get out of here."

  The weight lifted off my back as they retrieved my phone and ran off into the night.

  For a minute or two, I didn't move. Angry, frustrated tears emerged in the corners of my eyes, but I tried to push them away. The few cars that drove by ignored me. No one seemed to notice the helpless woman lying on the sidewalk; or if they did, they certainly didn’t care. I managed to pull myself into a sitting position, staring, dazed. My sleeve was torn and my head throbbed with a dull pain. I wiped away traces of blood on the back of my sleeve.