Chapter 1
“But why would you care? I mean, strippers normally just leave after the night is over? At Least in movies, don’t they? Rue shook the ice in her glass and took a sip. Both Sareth and Rue tried new alcohols together and had decided to drink each other’s favorite whiskey when one is low. Jack Daniels was Sareth’s.
“He started coming every night, always right on time, sitting just in front of me. He will be my ‘stare bear’ every night. Choosing me every night. And even though I was picky enough with guys or girls I spent my nights with, I could just never say no to his blue eyes, and perfectly trimmed jawline. He had the perfect physique, one every girl can die for. The way his fair skin used to shine when I used to wear that sparkly little skirt on stage. Ufffff!” Sareth chuckled.
Sareth married Hary two years ago but had known Rue only since the last few months, but still she felt like home to her. She spent her nights working at a nearby club and normally used to go home only to sleep.
“How can one feel so emotionally drained with someone they know they can’t live without?”
“Even I don’t know. In fact I also thought once that it’s impossible to feel drained with someone you love. But right now, I know I am,”
Rue nodded.
“He doesn't even care! It's been more than a month and we haven’t seen each other in the eye. He never asks me where I am or where I go! Actually we don’t talk anymore. He no longer feels like touching me! I feel so invisible when he’s around” Sareth took a pause. “I think I need a break or a divorce is on the way,” Tears were about to roll down her eyes but a stripper knows how to handle extreme heat, physically and emotionally.
“Why don’t you come home? Maybe meeting my friends will change his mind. He will know I am not ditching him and that I will never stoop that low,” Sareth held Rue’s hand with sparkling eyes.
“Oh no. I can’t. Even if I did, it is going to be a waste of time,”
“Why?”
“Because Hary won’t be able to see me anyway,” Rue said, looking elsewhere.
“What do you mean?” Sareth pulled her hand back.
“Maybe you can try to be a little bit different today. Go home and try to be a good wife. An available one. Do what wives do with their husbands when they get drunk,” Rue winked at Sareth, knowing she successfully changed the subject.
Sareth had blind confidence in Rue. Hary was disregardful towards her since they got married which really started to take a toll on her before she met Rue. When asked, she will not have any recollection of how she bumped into Rue, but best friendships are made when you least expect them, right?
She would see her daily; Rue was never busy. Their friendship will appear normal to many, but it wasn’t perfect. Rue was hesitant to enter Sareth’s house. Nobody close to Sareth had ever seen or talked to Rue, but the way Sareth described her comforted them all, except Hary.
Rue, as she said, led a normal, satisfied life. Even being drunk she will never complain about anything. She will never talk about her family and will always avoid the question, like a romantic couple accidentally seeing each other in public after a traumatic separation. But still, she will never refuse to see Sareth, even call her if felt she might need her.
