Chapter 9 - My Demons

I shot up from my bed, covered in sweat. It was a dream. A dream. A dream. Nothing more than a dream. A nightmare. It’s over. I’m not there anymore.

When I glanced at the clock, I realized that even though it feels like I was asleep for half a day, no more than thirty minutes passed. Damn it…

I got out of the bed, knowing that I won’t be sleeping anymore. Both due to the fear of nightmares, and the fact that I should start getting ready for work. I splashed cold water on my face. When will this stop? When will I be free from the demons that haunt me every second of my life? I would go see a therapist, but I am barely making the ends meet as it is. Financially, I mean. I have to pay rent, scholarship in music school, and I have to eat. It leaves me with very little to no money for healthcare. Unfortunately, I will just have to push through.

I got dressed, and headed for the pub I worked in as a bartender. The lucky thing was that my apartment is relatively close, about ten minutes of walking.

I kind of hated that part. I was passing by many shops, seeing things I would like to get through the glass. I’m not a spoiled brat, far from it. I just wish that sometimes, just sometimes I could spoil myself. Well, it doesn’t bring me any good thinking about it. On the contrary, I managed to bring myself down.

My mood didn’t get any better when I got to my destination. The place was packed, and there was nobody behind the bar, except the manager who knows nothing about serving people. He was fuming when he saw me.

“Where have you been, can’t you see that we are full?! That other girl just walked out on me!”

By that other girl, he probably meant a middle aged woman who got a job here a few days ago. She was a deeply unpleasant person, whose parents financially supported her till they died, when she was forced to find a job. Looks like it was too much for her to actually work.

As for the manager’s shitty behavior, I had nothing to say to it. I just got used to him. My shift starts at eight p.m. sharp, and that is fifteen minutes from now. I just ignored him and got to work.

The good thing about this job is that it keeps your mind busy, leaving no space for unnecessary thoughts. Just keeping track of the orders is enough to make a person forget about everything else.

The only thing that managed to take all of my attention was a tall young man with spiky blonde hair entering the pub, behind whom was a brunette I’d recognize anywhere.