Possessive about Rosa

Tapping my foot restlessly on the grey pavement below my feet I waited for the mailman to sort out my mail from others, he had been doing it for quite a while now, I dug my nails into the palm of my both hands refraining from asking him to make it real quick. He is retiring next week, so some people in the building thought it would be great to throw him a farewell, well they obviously didn't know I was broke and could barely pay my rent. Staying in the city all by yourself isn't exactly a piece of cake, unless you have a great job with amazing pay and holidays whenever. I wish I had completed my college. At least I wouldn't be serving coffee to people I don't know in a café! I did countless odd jobs here and there but never something I enjoyed or actually liked. I was a nanny, I babysat a ten year old and a twelve year old, and I would be lying if I say they were saints behind their parent's back, they were devil in disguise. I don't remember a single time them sitting quietly in a place for more than twenty seconds, they didn't give a crap about anything or anyone. They just wanted to run. Their parents were out all day, they owned a clothing line and worked together, they weren't home mostly. After struggling for six months the kids started liking me but that didn't mean they gave me less hard time, in fact they started behaving more obnoxiously. The first year working for them I never uttered a word about their children, the pay was alright, but I had to run to their house to babysit them at night and sometimes on my days off too. After six more months they opened a franchise of Posh; the name of their clothing line in Italy and shifted there. I was left jobless. "Oh Rose dear, I'm sorry. Here are your mails." Mr Everett, the mailman smiling at me stuck out his hands holding my mails. "Don't be Mr Everett, it's no big deal." My all frustration melted listening to his sweet voice filled with love, I knew him for almost thirteen years now, and it was hard for me or anyone to stay mad at him for long. You meet people who just vibe, like a lot. You start thinking that you know them and vice versa since you were kids. And some, with some people it's exactly the opposite, you feel like staying the hell away from them, like my landlord.  "This isn't mine Mr Everett, this is Richmond's," I pulled out the water bill and electricity bill which wasn't mine and handed over to him. " wait, I'll put it in his mailbox." I didn't wait for him to answer, I folded the bills in half and slid in my frock's pocket. "Thank you Rose." His wrinkly hand came in contact with my left left cheek as he patted me, his hands were shaking. I didn't want him to get retired, he was nice and I know only a handful of genuine people. I gulped down the choked sob bubbling up my throat and bit my inner cheek. "See you later Rose." He put away the remaining mails in his bag, adjusting the blue cap on his head he slowly turned around walking away. I sighed, turning towards the staircase after cursing at the out of order elevator I started towards my apartment. I'd hardly call that piece of s**t place an apartment, it's small with cracks in the wall, the shower never works, the force of water is almost nothing, and the furniture it came with does nothing but smell. I have a roof over my head and some stale bread and peanut butter which I'm pretty sure has expired in the fridge, which doesn't work properly either, I reminded myself. Walking past the second floor I stopped in my tracks and took a right to Richmond's apartment. Richmond was a good man really, but his wife was a witch, a real one. She was a druggie with a lot of issues and Richmond had to work his ass off to pay the bills and fill food in her stomach and his. Standing in front of the purple door which had cracks on the top most left corner I heard his wife yelling. "I said give me the money! I need the money! Where is it?" I heard something crash on the other side, "it's not here, where is it?" Another loud crash, I shivered this time. I wanted to turn away and leave as soon as I could before I heard another crash but instead I heard footsteps nearing the door and after a moment the door opened revealing a very weak Richmond. He looked like he was deprived from sleep and food for many days without break. His shirt was open, seemed like someone tore it in a fight, his brown hair was disheveled in a weird way. "Rose hey." His voice was dull and sounded tired, it took me some time before I said anything. "Your bills Richmond." I stuck my right hand in my pocket keeping my eyes on him, instead my hand fell down, this time I tore my eyes off him and pulled out his two bills after straightening it with my shaking hands I handed it to him. He looked at my shaking hands and gave out a sigh. He wrapped his thin but large hands on mine and squeezed. "I'm alright. Really." He whispered. Who exactly was he consoling, me or himself? I wondered. "Give her a divorce, it's been four years." I said in a small voice, I couldn't see him like this, he was always a fun person to be around, he was like an older brother, he checked up on me on my hard days, fed me so many times and even left leftovers in my fridge so I wouldn't have to starve at times. I knew I couldn't help him financially but I was there for him emotionally. He pulled me towards the stairs and sat down on one of them, he leaned back and looked at the door of his apartment, he glanced up at me and pulled me down to sit with him. "It's not that easy Rose." He ran his hands in his hair and pulled on them. "Don't." I wrapped my hands around his fist as he loosened his hold on his hair. "It is Richmond, think about it. You don't owe that woman anything, just leave her and start a new life, find someone who will be by your side no matter what. You don't deserve that woman." I pulled his head down on my shoulder, he let out a shuddering breath and relaxed against me. "I can't leave her, she's my wife." I sighed. "Yes. She is, but she doesn't understand that, she treats you like an ATM machine and nothing else. Stop making yourself guilty for her." I rubbed his knee. "I…" We heard an ear splitting crash followed but other several crashes back to back, Richmond got up and without sparing me another glance he ran in the hallway and then inside his apartment. I saw a bill laying on the floor, I picked it up and shook my head. I headed to my apartment and set his bill in the bowl full of keys, I stripped out of my footwear and sat on the couch looking straight ahead at the wall full of ugly cracks. I couldn't even afford a decent television, I need to look up for a good job or odd jobs. I don't wish to live like this, I want to have a normal home in a normal neighborhood where teenagers don't sell Molly and weed and where people don't kill their enemies in cold blood at night. Goosebumps rose on my skin making me shiver in fear at the thought of ever encountering a murder in front of my eyes. I've heard from people in the building that most of the murders take place here because the alley is dark and empty mostly. Since then I've always made sure I don't stay out at night with the girls or at the café. My train of thoughts came to an end when I heard my phone going off, pulling myself off the couch I marched towards the same bowl in the kitchen full of keys where my phone rang on the creamish marble. I saw Scarlett's name on the screen and wondered what she wanted. I swiped right and held the phone to my ear, "Hey, Scarlett." I tapped my nails on the kitchen island. "Rose..it's me Hazel," I frowned, turning around to the living room to sit on the couch, "Hi." I said. "Can you come down to Eli's?" She asked, making me groan softly, it was my day off and I didn't want to go anywhere, if I do I'll have to pay for the bus and then food, it's good I stay at home and do nothing but save some dollars. "Is it important?" I bit my lower lip hoping she would say no so I won't have to go. "Actually yes." Her voice was shaking. "I'll be there in a few." I got up instantly, walking to my room to dress up. "Don't bother, Clara is on her way, you can ride with her." She called. "Alright, I'll check with her. Bye." Without waiting for her answer I hung up and sat down on the couch, clicking on the contacts I searched for Clara's number to call her, I waited for her to answer, "Rose, yes I'm on my way." She hurried. "Okay." I nodded, hanging up. I threw my phone on the couch and walked towards my room, I searched for good clothing in the pile of clothes on the floor. I found denim shorts and a red crop top, picking it up I snuffed it to check whether or not they're washed. Stripping out of the yellow frock which reached my knees I threw it in the piles of clothes and ran into the bathroom in the hallway half naked. Slamming the door shut of the bathroom I washed my face and took a piss. I walked back in the bedroom and wore the clothes and stood in front of the freestanding oval full length mirror, I washed my hair the other day so it looked manageable, I took the brush sitting on the bed and brushed my hair hissing when the brush not stuck and wouldn't come out. I ran my hands on my body and swirled smiling to myself.  I ran back in the kitchen for my wallet, picking up my black wallet I opened to see how much money I've left. Thirty dollars and seventy-five cents. I have to pay bills, rent and food. How will I survive? I kept my wallet in my dark blue tote bag and heard the doorbell ring, with the bag in my hand I went to answer the door, I swung the door open and saw Clara standing looking down at her phone. "Come in." I smiled and went to hug her as she hugged me back and then walked past me inside the apartment, she was the most mysterious among us girls, we knew very little about her yet everything, she didn't like people asking her about personal stuff. "Are you ready?" I closed the door and turned to her, "Yeah, you'd like some water?" I asked politely, yes because having cold drinks and beer stashed in my fridge is a luxury I couldn't afford. "No. Let's go." People always misunderstood her normal tone for an arrogant tone or rude but it is the way she is. "Why don't you guys complain about the elevator, you pay for the shit." She kicked the door of the elevator on the second floor, I wasn't worried about the elevator but Richmond, we both could hear the yelling in his house.  Settling in the car we were on our way to Eli's place. Eli was the richest among us, literally. She lived in the mansion with her husband whom she was betrothed to by their parents, they both didn't like each other but they had no choice but to compromise. She often told us at lunch in the café how they both are getting along lately, baby steps she would say. We drove in silence to her place, there was no music because Clara hated it, "son of a b***h!" She yelled, taking her head out of the window to a car, "calm down Clara." I looked at her. "Wasn't my fault." Her voice was low, I shut up. "How's work?" She asked beside me, as we drove on the rich side of the city. "Not good, got bills to pay." I sighed. "Look for other jobs or ask Leona to increase your pay, you've been working for her for what, seven years now?" She took a U turn. "Eight almost." I shook my head continuing, "she could barely make her own living, and there are other employees too." I reasoned. "So? No one is as old as you. She trusts you, you know that place like the back of your palm, ask her to increase your pay." She stopped in front of black doors and talked to the security. I thought about what she said, she was right but she didn't know Leona's condition, she had to pay the chef, waiters, the bills and grocery. It would be selfish of me to ask her even after knowing her financial condition. "You coming out?" Clara knocked on my side of the window looking at me weirdly, I clambered out of the car and closed the door behind me. "It's gonna be fine." Clara said without looking at me, I couldn't say anything. She pushed open the massive doors of the mansion as a lady came to attend to us, she smiled at us and led us to Eli's room. "Calm down Hazel he's not cheating on you." We heard Scarlett outside the room, my neck snapped to an equally confused Clara, she opened the door without knocking and we both walked in, Scarlett stood by the window with a cup and a cookie in both her hands, Eli sat beside Hazel on the king side bed rubbing her back. "Hey." I waved, I looked at a silent Clara and signed. "What's wrong?" I walked in the big room and sat beside Hazel looking at everyone baffled. "Hazel thinks Jack-back is cheating on her." Scarlett said reaching out for another cookie on the coffee table. "Ridiculous." Clara finally uttered her first words. "Totally." I agreed. Jack was her boyfriend, they had been dating for six years now and it never occurred to any of us that he'd even think of cheating on Hazel. "How did the thought surfaced in your mind, Haz?" Eli finally asked. "I was at the mall yesterday and I saw him with a girl, I didn't want to think about it much so I let them be, I shopped and walked back home, at night he came home and I couldn't help but ask him and he said he was at the office the whole day, that he didn't even get time to eat lunch." Hazel looked down. "I'm sure you're just looking more into it." Clara shrugged leaning back on the red wall.  "I don't know." Hazel looked at me, "what do you think?" She asked me. "Clara's right, you're just looking into it, he might've forgotten to tell you, or she might be a friend." I smiled a little. "I don't want to doubt him. I hate the feeling." She rested her head on my shoulder, I looked at everyone and then at Hazel, "then don't. Trust him like you always do." I rubbed her arm. "And this stays between us, no one tells Jack a word." Scarlett said, setting her cup down on the coffee table, everyone agreed. "I heard the b***h yelling at Richmond." Clara changed the subject swiftly. "Again?" Scarlett gasped. "Totally." I shook my head, Scarlett had a crush on Richmond since we all could remember, but she never made a move on him because of his wife. "Why doesn't he divorce her already?" Eli rolled her eyes, plopping back on the huge bed. "I know right!" Hazel shook her head and plopped back with Eli on the bed. "The thought must not have crossed his mind?" Scarlett said. "Bullshit." Clara and I said at the same time. "We all should tie him up and force him." Clara huffed.  "Violence is not always the answer Clara!" Hazel mumbled. "Oh it is, you should see the people in the bar I work at, they resolve their issues with fights." She shrugged. "Ever bothered thinking they fight because they're wasted most of the time?" Scarlett scoffed moving to the bed after wiping her fingers with the tissue beside the teapot on the tray. "All the time but fighting is an easy and fair game." Clara argued. "No! That's absurd!" Eli groaned.  "It's not!!" Clara shot back, they both were at it. I thought, running my hand through Hazel's hair. "Go on Eli tell her how stupid her theory is." Scarlett sat on the couch opposite to the bed. "Or we can fight and find out." Clara said. "Oh God," Hazel chuckled at their  "I've asked the cook to make more dinner, you guys are eating here." Eli ignored everyone. "I'm hungry, let's go down." Hazel got up and started looking for her phone, probably to let Jack know that she's staying for dinner. We all got down, ate, talked, had some wine and headed back home promising we would meet up soon, if only life was as easy as it sounded. "I said give me the money! I need the money! Where is it?" I heard something crash on the other side, "it's not here, where is it?" Another loud crash, I shivered this time. I wanted to turn away and leave as soon as I could before I heard another crash but instead I heard footsteps nearing the door and after a moment the door opened revealing a very weak Richmond. He looked like he was deprived from sleep and food for many days without break. His shirt was open, seemed like someone tore it in a fight, his brown hair was disheveled in a weird way. "Rose hey." His voice was dull and sounded tired, it took me some time before I said anything. "Your bills Richmond." I stuck my right hand in my pocket keeping my eyes on him, instead my hand fell down, this time I tore my eyes off him and pulled out his two bills after straightening it with my shaking hands I handed it to him. He looked at my shaking hands and gave out a sigh. He wrapped his thin but large hands on mine and squeezed. "I'm alright. Really." He whispered. Who exactly was he consoling, me or himself? I wondered. "Give her a divorce, it's been four years." I said in a small voice, I couldn't see him like this, he was always a fun person to be around, he was like an older brother, he checked up on me on my hard days, fed me so many times and even left leftovers in my fridge so I wouldn't have to starve at times. I knew I couldn't help him financially but I was there for him emotionally. He pulled me towards the stairs and sat down on one of them, he leaned back and looked at the door of his apartment, he glanced up at me and pulled me down to sit with him. "It's not that easy Rose." He ran his hands in his hair and pulled on them. "Don't." I wrapped my hands around his fist as he loosened his hold on his hair. "It is Richmond, think about it. You don't owe that woman anything, just leave her and start a new life, find someone who will be by your side no matter what. You don't deserve that woman." I pulled his head down on my shoulder, he let out a shuddering breath and relaxed against me. "I can't leave her, she's my wife." I sighed. "Yes. She is, but she doesn't understand that, she treats you like an ATM machine and nothing else. Stop making yourself guilty for her." I rubbed his knee. "I…" We heard an ear splitting crash followed but other several crashes back to back, Richmond got up and without sparing me another glance he ran in the hallway and then inside his apartment. I saw a bill laying on the floor, I picked it up and shook my head. I headed to my apartment and set his bill in the bowl full of keys, I stripped out of my footwear and sat on the couch looking straight ahead at the wall full of ugly cracks. I couldn't even afford a decent television, I need to look up for a good job or odd jobs. I don't wish to live like this, I want to have a normal home in a normal neighborhood where teenagers don't sell Molly and weed and where people don't kill their enemies in cold blood at night. Goosebumps rose on my skin making me shiver in fear at the thought of ever encountering a murder in front of my eyes. I've heard from people in the building that most of the murders take place here because the alley is dark and empty mostly. Since then I've always made sure I don't stay out at night with the girls or at the café. My train of thoughts came to an end when I heard my phone going off, pulling myself off the couch I marched towards the same bowl in the kitchen full of keys where my phone rang on the creamish marble. I saw Scarlett's name on the screen and wondered what she wanted. I swiped right and held the phone to my ear, "Hey, Scarlett." I tapped my nails on the kitchen island. "Rose..it's me Hazel," I frowned, turning around to the living room to sit on the couch, "Hi." I said. "Can you come down to Eli's?" She asked, making me groan softly, it was my day off and I didn't want to go anywhere, if I do I'll have to pay for the bus and then food, it's good I stay at home and do nothing but save some dollars. "Is it important?" I bit my lower lip hoping she would say no so I won't have to go. "Actually yes." Her voice was shaking. "I'll be there in a few." I got up instantly, walking to my room to dress up. "Don't bother, Clara is on her way, you can ride with her." She called. "Alright, I'll check with her. Bye." Without waiting for her answer I hung up and sat down on the couch, clicking on the contacts I searched for Clara's number to call her, I waited for her to answer, "Rose, yes I'm on my way." She hurried. "Okay." I nodded, hanging up. I threw my phone on the couch and walked towards my room, I searched for good clothing in the pile of clothes on the floor. I found denim shorts and a red crop top, picking it up I snuffed it to check whether or not they're washed. Stripping out of the yellow frock which reached my knees I threw it in the piles of clothes and ran into the bathroom in the hallway half naked. Slamming the door shut of the bathroom I washed my face and took a piss. I walked back in the bedroom and wore the clothes and stood in front of the freestanding oval full length mirror, I washed my hair the other day so it looked manageable, I took the brush sitting on the bed and brushed my hair hissing when the brush not stuck and wouldn't come out. I ran my hands on my body and swirled smiling to myself.  I ran back in the kitchen for my wallet, picking up my black wallet I opened to see how much money I've left. Thirty dollars and seventy-five cents. I have to pay bills, rent and food. How will I survive? I kept my wallet in my dark blue tote bag and heard the doorbell ring, with the bag in my hand I went to answer the door, I swung the door open and saw Clara standing looking down at her phone. "Come in." I smiled and went to hug her as she hugged me back and then walked past me inside the apartment, she was the most mysterious among us girls, we knew very little about her yet everything, she didn't like people asking her about personal stuff. "Are you ready?" I closed the door and turned to her, "Yeah, you'd like some water?" I asked politely, yes because having cold drinks and beer stashed in my fridge is a luxury I couldn't afford. "No. Let's go." People always misunderstood her normal tone for an arrogant tone or rude but it is the way she is. "Why don't you guys complain about the elevator, you pay for the shit." She kicked the door of the elevator on the second floor, I wasn't worried about the elevator but Richmond, we both could hear the yelling in his house.  Settling in the car we were on our way to Eli's place. Eli was the richest among us, literally. She lived in the mansion with her husband whom she was betrothed to by their parents, they both didn't like each other but they had no choice but to compromise. She often told us at lunch in the café how they both are getting along lately, baby steps she would say. We drove in silence to her place, there was no music because Clara hated it, "son of a b***h!" She yelled, taking her head out of the window to a car, "calm down Clara." I looked at her. "Wasn't my fault." Her voice was low, I shut up. "How's work?" She asked beside me, as we drove on the rich side of the city. "Not good, got bills to pay." I sighed. "Look for other jobs or ask Leona to increase your pay, you've been working for her for what, seven years now?" She took a U turn. "Eight almost." I shook my head continuing, "she could barely make her own living, and there are other employees too." I reasoned. "So? No one is as old as you. She trusts you, you know that place like the back of your palm, ask her to increase your pay." She stopped in front of black doors and talked to the security. I thought about what she said, she was right but she didn't know Leona's condition, she had to pay the chef, waiters, the bills and grocery. It would be selfish of me to ask her even after knowing her financial condition. "You coming out?" Clara knocked on my side of the window looking at me weirdly, I clambered out of the car and closed the door behind me. "It's gonna be fine." Clara said without looking at me, I couldn't say anything. She pushed open the massive doors of the mansion as a lady came to attend to us, she smiled at us and led us to Eli's room. "Calm down Hazel he's not cheating on you." We heard Scarlett outside the room, my neck snapped to an equally confused Clara, she opened the door without knocking and we both walked in, Scarlett stood by the window with a cup and a cookie in both her hands, Eli sat beside Hazel on the king side bed rubbing her back. "Hey." I waved, I looked at a silent Clara and signed. "What's wrong?" I walked in the big room and sat beside Hazel looking at everyone baffled. "Hazel thinks Jack-back is cheating on her." Scarlett said reaching out for another cookie on the coffee table. "Ridiculous." Clara finally uttered her first words. "Totally." I agreed. Jack was her boyfriend, they had been dating for six years now and it never occurred to any of us that he'd even think of cheating on Hazel. "How did the thought surfaced in your mind, Haz?" Eli finally asked. "I was at the mall yesterday and I saw him with a girl, I didn't want to think about it much so I let them be, I shopped and walked back home, at night he came home and I couldn't help but ask him and he said he was at the office the whole day, that he didn't even get time to eat lunch." Hazel looked down. "I'm sure you're just looking more into it." Clara shrugged leaning back on the red wall.  "I don't know." Hazel looked at me, "what do you think?" She asked me. "Clara's right, you're just looking into it, he might've forgotten to tell you, or she might be a friend." I smiled a little. "I don't want to doubt him. I hate the feeling." She rested her head on my shoulder, I looked at everyone and then at Hazel, "then don't. Trust him like you always do." I rubbed her arm. "And this stays between us, no one tells Jack a word." Scarlett said, setting her cup down on the coffee table, everyone agreed. "I heard the b***h yelling at Richmond." Clara changed the subject swiftly. "Again?" Scarlett gasped. "Totally." I shook my head, Scarlett had a crush on Richmond since we all could remember, but she never made a move on him because of his wife. "Why doesn't he divorce her already?" Eli rolled her eyes, plopping back on the huge bed. "I know right!" Hazel shook her head and plopped back with Eli on the bed. "The thought must not have crossed his mind?" Scarlett said. "Bullshit." Clara and I said at the same time. "We all should tie him up and force him." Clara huffed.  "Violence is not always the answer Clara!" Hazel mumbled. "Oh it is, you should see the people in the bar I work at, they resolve their issues with fights." She shrugged. "Ever bothered thinking they fight because they're wasted most of the time?" Scarlett scoffed moving to the bed after wiping her fingers with the tissue beside the teapot on the tray. "All the time but fighting is an easy and fair game." Clara argued. "No! That's absurd!" Eli groaned.  "It's not!!" Clara shot back, they both were at it. I thought, running my hand through Hazel's hair. "Go on Eli tell her how stupid her theory is." Scarlett sat on the couch opposite to the bed. "Or we can fight and find out." Clara said. "Oh God," Hazel chuckled looking at them. "I've asked the cook to make more dinner, you guys are eating here." Eli ignored everyone. "I'm hungry, let's go down." Hazel got up and started looking for her phone, probably to let Jack know that she's staying for dinner. We all got down, ate, talked, had some wine and headed back home promising we would meet up soon, if only life was as easy as it sounded. ▪▪▪