"My drunkard." I whispered slowly as I lost consciousness, The last thought that filled my mind was one of relief...Safe at last.
. MY DRUNKARD. MY SAVIOR.
TANNER
As with any other day, I'd headed to the nearest bar and ordered a drink. It was a familiar routine that I had grown accustomed to. I didn't care about the town I was in or where I was. I simply wanted to drink until I was tired and then sleep wherever I found a comfortable spot.
It was on one of these aimless strolls that I stumbled upon her again. She was begging for money in a group of people who were laughing and mocking her. Men were ogling her, interested in her physical features. My heart ached for her as I saw the desperation in her eyes. I wondered why she was back on the streets and what brought her here to Texas. But before I could ponder more, I'd lost sight of her and continued on my way.
While walking towards a dark alley leading to a construction site, I overheard the sound of men laughing and a woman crying. My first thought was that a prostitute was probably having a good time. But then I heard the woman say, "Please! Do anything to me! Anything at all! But give me money afterwards for my baby, please!"
It was her voice. I couldn't ignore it. My feet refused to move, and I walked towards the sound. Soon enough, I found her being dragged by two men towards the construction site. The sight of her being mistreated by these men made my blood boil, and it sobered me up pretty fast. I had to intervene.
As I approached the men, they had already ripped her clothes and were about to take advantage of her. I fought them, and the fight ended when they were defeated. It wasn't a fair fight, but I didn't care. I just wanted to protect her from those monsters.
The girl looked frightened and helpless as she lay on the ground, shivering from the cold breeze hitting her naked body. When she saw me, her eyes widened in recognition, and she whispered something I couldn't hear before fainting.
I couldn't bear to leave her alone in the cold, so I lifted her into my arms and picked up the rest of her shredded clothes. I covered her exposed body with the torn garments as I walked out of the construction site. The cold air was biting, I had to find her a safe place to stay.
As I walked away, I realized that I didn't know where she lived or where her baby was. It left me feeling uncertain about what to do next.
As I looked down at the girl in my arms, her eyes slowly opened and I could see the foggy confusion behind them. One of the disadvantages of being sober is that you notice everything.
"Where are you staying now?" I asked her, hoping to break through the haze in her mind. She looked up at me, struggling to keep her eyes open, but unable to answer.
She was so light that I couldn't help but wonder when she had last eaten. And what about her baby? She had mentioned getting money for her child earlier. I tried a different approach, hoping to elicit a response. "Where is your baby?" I asked gently.
She blinked slowly, and after a moment's hesitation, she replied, "Rest-up Motel...cheapest room." Before she could say anything else, she fainted once again.
At least I had a destination now. I carried her in my arms, looking around in the darkness of the night for any sign of the motel. After walking for what seemed like an eternity, I finally spotted it.
I walked up to the attendant and asked for the cheapest room. "It's occupied," she said, eyeing me suspiciously.
I didn't have time for her distrust. "I know. I asked for the room number, not the status of the room," I growled at her. Her eyes widened with fear, and she quickly rattled off the number. I carried the girl in my arms, walking past rows of rooms, searching for the one I had been given.
When I finally found the right room, I tried the doorknob, but it wouldn't budge. In a fit of frustration, I kicked the door, and it burst open with a loud thud.
The baby was sleeping peacefully in the center of the bed, completely oblivious to the chaos around him. I walked over and gently placed the girl next to her child. As I touched her forehead, I could feel the heat radiating off her skin, just like the last time.
I glanced over at the baby, whose face was red and hot to the touch. I placed my hand on his forehead, which felt even hotter than his mother's.
My eyes landed on a crumpled piece of paper on the table. As I picked it up, I realized it was a list of drugs, with names scrawled haphazardly across the page.
For a moment, I felt a pang of anger and frustration. This girl wasn't my responsibility, and yet here I was, tasked with taking care of her and her baby. But even as I thought this, I found myself carefully folding the paper and slipping it into my pocket.