Mark had hoisted the bundle onto his
shoulder. I stared, then led him to a nearby
alley, a common hiding spot for street
vendors. The stall owner grinned when he saw
- us. “Good on ya, lady! Found yourself a
helpful fella.” “Better than last time, eh?
When the cops got ya and you lost a whole
day’s earnings!” He helped Mark lower the
<
heavy bundle. “You wouldn’t believe it, this
little lady’s fast now. But when she started,
small as she was, the cops’d chase her, she’d
drop her socks, trip and fall… came back the
next day limping.” He winked. “With her work
ethic, lucky’s the man who snags her.”
Someone chuckled. “Maybe she’s already
married.” The stall owner shook his head and
looked at me. “No way. No husband’d let his
pretty wife work like this, risking it all every day.” Mark’s lips tightened as he looked at
- me. I smiled at the stall owner and said.
nothing. The stall owner peered out of the
alley. “Hey, ain’t that your wife and kid?
Looks like they’re looking for ya.” Sarah and
her daughter appeared moments later.
“Daddy!” the little girl cried, grabbing Mark’s
hand. But he didn’t move. His eyes were fixed
on me. I looked down at my feet. We’d argued
so much about Sarah. He always accused me
<
of being unsympathetic, unreasonable. Until I
made a scene. Until he gave Sarah my job. I
finally understood. In his eyes, I would never
measure up to Sarah. He would always
choose her. Last time I made a scene, I lost
my job. If I made another one now… I didn’t
want to think about what he’d do. But it
didn’t matter anymore. Mark gave Sarah most
of our money, and spent more time with her
and her daughter than with me. He was
always there for the sick child, for the
struggling single mother. It didn’t matter if her
daughter called him daddy. It was no big deal.
As soon as the coast was clear, the vendors.
scrambled out of the alley. I was among them.
As I hoisted my bundle, I saw Mark move
towards me, but Sarah gave him a look, and
her daughter started whining. They held him
back, but I could feel his eyes on me as I
turned the corner.
く
Business was good that night. I stayed open
late, finally packing up the last few socks and
outfits after eleven. I was making plans for
my next stock order as I went to boil water
for tea. The kettle was full. I turned and saw
Mark, still awake. He took the kettle to the
bathroom and adjusted the water
temperature. “Go ahead and wash up. The
water will get cold,” he said. I closed the
bathroom door. When I came out, he was
sitting on the bed, smoking. He looked at me,
his eyes shadowed by the smoke. “Don’t
start,” he said. “Sarah said Lily needed
warmer clothes. I got paid today, so I… And
Lily calling me daddy… that’s just…” “Stop,” I interrupted. “I’m tired.” I had to leave early.
tomorrow. The new clothes were almost sold
out. I was going to Atlanta, where I’d heard
the styles were even better and cheaper. It
would be my first long–distance trip alone,
and I was nervous. I had no energy left for
him and Sarah. I didn’t care why he took her
shopping, or why her daughter called him.
daddy. It was all irrelevant. Sarah showing up
at my stall today wasn’t a coincidence. Only
Mark would think she was so innocent and
helpless. He opened his mouth to speak. I
closed my eyes. I needed to rest. I could still
feel his gaze as I drifted off. I knew he was
watching me, but I didn’t want to talk. People
leave when they’ve had enough. That’s where
we were. “Lucy, why aren’t you fighting with.
me anymore?” he whispered as I fell asleep.
My eyelids fluttered, but I let the darkness
consume me.
