Quick and easy

We finally pull up outside our favourite under appreciated restaurant and hop out of the Jeep. We both make our way through the doors and seat ourselves in our regular booth. The entire brunch passes in silence, just as we prefer it. With her not really knowing who I am, and the risk of her finding out could put her in unprecedented danger. She understands it, she knows that when I leave tonight, that’s it. We shouldn’t stay in contact because she has a family and a future. She pays for our meal and I leave a $100 tip for my favourite waitress and hurry out before she sees it. Anna and I head back to our shared apartment, and I immediately begin packing. I got her ex-husband to rent a U-Haul truck for me, and he’s going to help me move down as he has a job in Yellowknife. Anna creeps into my room and gives me a huge hug. As little as she knows about me, she cares for me just as much as I care for her. I squeeze her so tight I feel her back crack against the pressure but she doesn’t release her grip either. I feel my shoulder slowly becoming more and more moist. I understand almost immediately what it is after I feel my own cold tears roll down my warm cheeks and onto her light pink shirt, showing up very easily in the light. I pull away and kiss her on the cheek and walk her out of the room.

“Alright look, we both knew this day was coming. It fucking sucks, but we just have to move forward. I don’t want you to say anything, I just want you to drive to your mothers house, pick up your kids and take them somewhere for the weekend. On me of course.” I sniffle, barely holding myself together when I notice a protest beginning to leave her lips. “Hey, listen I really don’t want you to argue, I don’t want to leave with you still here, it doesn’t feel right. So just take this envelope, it has a letter and all the money that you wouldn’t accept over the last 4 years. I love you, and give the kids a big kiss for me.” I hand her a thick envelope and walk right into my mostly empty bedroom. I hear her let out a sigh and a quick cry. I finish packing and then I hear the front door open and close. She’s gone.

It’s alright Avalina. Breathe. She doesnt know your real name, you’ve had no contact with your family in years. If your family hasn’t found you now, there’s a slim chance they ever will. I payed for my tuition by working at bars and strip clubs, I took jobs as a dominatrix and I had a few sugar daddies over the years so I wasn’t exactly hard to find. When I left Columbia, I took a lot of my own money. I have it stashed at my grandfathers penthouse in Yukon, along with a few personal items. It’s just kind of hard to pay for everything with cash, people give you funny looks and it seems like you’re trying to hide something. Which I most definitely am. I can only keep this charade up for so long.

I hear a car horn honk twice, I look outside and its Anna’s ex husband Kurt. He’s already getting out of the U-haul truck and making his way into the building. Kurt is a short man, he’s around my height, weighs less than me. He has thin black hair and grey eyes. He looks like he’s a frequent customer of my family. I avoid conversation at all costs and move furniture into the van. I feel his boney, cold fingers glide across my warm skin and I don’t hesitate to turn around and dig my fingers into his throat.

“Listen you junkie piece of shit, don’t touch me again or you will wish that you never met me. I will cut your fingers off and shove them up your ass, got it?” I scream into his face, he looks shook up but he’s used to this. Anna left when he didn’t come home for 4 days, she found him at her sisters in her bed with needles and smack laying around the floor. He had been using heroin on and off their entire relationship but he finally succumbed to the disease and spent their kids college education.

“If you don’t get your head out of your ass and get clean, I will come back and make you fucking regret being born.” The words leave my mouth before I can process what I’m about to say. I’ve always had a quick mouth, it’s why my family wanted me to run the Coronova mafia, but its also why I left. I don't want anything to do with that part of my life, i never asked for it. I lower Kurt to the ground, he has bruises around his jugular from my fingernails. It’ll be a lingering warning. I leave the building without another word, and head towards the moving van. I throw my knife in my safe, lock the safe then the truck and add a padlock. I get in my rental car and make my way to the airport.