The changing tides episode 7

The changing tides episode 7
“So what’s your real name beautiful. I have been your client for more than 4 times now I gues its
time we got to know each other well,” the man who was with Maria on a particular night asked
her. She stood up redoing her make up the heels on her feet making her feel more tired than she
already was.
The man laying in the bed had called for her for more than thrice and she was begining to hate his
insistence on getting to know each othe was easy for Maria to fit in the pr-stitute business as her natural beauty and great body
mophology got her the guys with money.
She looked at him laying down satisfied, the feeling of disgust in her heart. She was holding it with
everything she had.
“Mmmh sorry, I don’t get personal with my clients man, just give me the money and I will be off to
see my baby. ” She snapped lifting her purse and extending her hands towards him.
“Well, you are stubborn lady, your friends would kill to get closer to me but you are so proud it’s as
if you have everything.”
Maria chuckled, and shook her head. “Sorry Mr, it’s not everyone of us who does this because we
want to. I wish you knew how much I have developed hatred for night times. Cause it is a constant
reminder of the demon I have become” she added and grabbed the money.
“By the way, grow up and learn to take care of your wife and family. I bet it’s safer for you” she
shouted from the door way and walked away, leaving the man shocked .
She went back to the night club entering the crowded area. She went to sit in the corner of the bar.
The loud music hitting her ears.
Maria watched as people danced on the floor. It was one of the days she had thought Paul so
much.
She recalled one day when she went to stand opposit the gate of Zesco watching people during
lunch time, she knew the moment she chose to do pr-stitution instead of finding another way out
that her life was doomed.
“He would never accept me now” she whispered to herself as she saw him walk towards his car.
He looked so handsome she smiled to herself.
She was carried away watching him when she saw an unfamiliar face of a woman walk to him
and hugged him.
Paul smiled widely and they started talking and later entered the vehicle together.
Maria sighed, she felt a grip of jealousy building up but she comforted herself.
“I don’t derseve him” she thought to herself and turned to walk away tears in her eyes.
That day she had spent time with her son who was now a year and months old. He was walking
and had started saying his first words.
Maria’s only pride was in her son. Everytime she looked at him her pain easied and it was like
some light shown in her dark self.
She had thought of Paul so much that she hærdly slept. He was gone and she thought her chance
of ever being with an honesty man were over. “this is my fate” she told herself.
Maria found herself drawing farther away from God every day that passed. She felt the inner guilty
of her sins and her shame greater. Even when she walked in the day Maria could not help feel the
wh0le world was scre-ming at her.. “pr-stitute! pr-stitute! ”
Strangely sometimes she could hold her eyes and cover her face like people were really
scre-ming.
This caused Maria to move less during the day. She stayed home and mostly in,side with her soThe fear to face the world was so great it was eating her up.
“Hey! Can I get you a beer?” Maria heard a man shout above the loud music bringing her to the
present.
She wiped a tear in her eyes and turned to look at him.
“No thank you, am with someone and he’s making an order right now” she lied with a fake smile.
“Your loss, ” the man shrugged and bounced away.
Maria watched the man leave and as she was staring she saw two guys entering the bar.
Her heart skipped when she realised who one of the guys were.
“Paul! ” She whispered. When Paul looked her direction, Maria turned away and pretended to be
looking somewhere else.
Unfortunately Paul and his friend came to sit behind her and she shivered not knowing what to do.
She had never anticipated seeing him there at least not that close. She had been watching him
from his work place and most of the time would see the same lady either talking to him or they
would be together in his car.
Maria had concluded Paul had another girfriend and she thought it wise never to confront him over
the issue of her son.
” I won’t cause him some budden which is all as a result of my faults” she had decided.
Paul looked at the woman seated alone in front of them. He had gone to have some drinks with
his friend that Friday and he didn’t understand why he kept on looking at her.
The dim night lights making it hærd for him to clearly see the face of the woman and her fringed
hair style distracted him even more.
“What is it Paul ? ,you have given up on looking for that girl now you want to hook up a pr-stitute?”
His friend asked with a laugh.
“I don’t know boi, that girl, she’s just, I can’t say it but for some reason I can’t stop staring at her”
Paul responded.
“Well, I told you breaking up with Tasha wasn’t a good idea after all.” Bwalya told him as he sipped
in his glass of wine.
“There’s little chance you will ever find that girl man.”
Paul sighed.
” I really wish she could have come back by now, I can’t help feel she needs me where ever she is
boi. That girl has been through a lot already i just hope she’s not suffering and if she was trully
pregnant I hope my son could be okey ” he added.
They were still talking when Paul noticed the girl he had been watching was standing up to leave.
He quickly stood up without warning his friend and walked towards Maria. .
“Hey lady!” He called her out.
Maria froze, she didn’t expect Paul to approach her and now she knew he had discovered her. .
“Hey! ” Maria responded her voice adjusted, her head down.Am sorry I have to leave now” she added trying to walk away.
“just a moment please ” Paul smiled touching her hand.
Maria felt blood rush through her veins from the point Paul had touched her.
He was the only man that she recalled making her skin jump like that. .
“Please I just want us to talk I won’t take long”. Paul whispered close to her ears making Maria
frinch a bit.
“What about?” she asked carelessly hoping Paul wouldn’t insist on her staying less he realises
who she was.
She looked at him from behind the shades she had drawn to her eyes and realised Paul had no
idea who she was.
Thank God she had decided to wear shades even though they made her look funny since it was
night time.
“Okay, if you insist, ” she said and followed Paul back to the table she was seated initially.
Paul’s friend looked at him and gave him a no sign but he smiled at him and indicated he would be
alright.
“So am Paul, ” he started looking at Maria.
“Jessy,” she nodded.
“Well, nice name. I like it Jessy,” he repeated with a smile.
“I just noticed you when I entered and I was like wow that woman is a catch. You are so different
from all these other girls I see in night clubs. ”
“Mmmmh pr-stitutes you mean? ” Maria asked offended.
“Oh am so sorry I didnt mean it to come out that way. But I don’t know of a better term to use”
Paul sighed.
“Well thats it mr Paul am a pr-stitute alright. Can you now tell me why you called me here?” She
said avoiding his eyes.
“I don’t know dear, there’s just something about you that had drawn me towards you and I can’t
put a finger on it,” Paul explained honestly.
“Well if you have money let’s get to it already i want to go” she said sarcastically.
“Am here to make money and not have chit chats with strangers” she added.
“I will pay you for your time Jessy but I don’t think I want to do with you what you are thinking..”
“Don’t lie to me Paul, all men want the same thing from women and when they get their way they
even forget that woman even exists. So give me the money and let’s do it already” she added
seriously.
Paul looked at her face, he knew behind that hidden face there was more than he was seeing. He
felt compelled to help her with what she needed and so instead of letting her go decided to play
along with her idea .
Well let’s go then, he sighed standing up.
Maria was shocked Paul was accepting to go and sleep with her and fear of him knowing who shewas got to her.
She had an idea of how she was going to play him, so she cleared her throat and told him,
“Well one condition. No lights in the room. I don’t work with lights on” she added looking at Paul.
Paul smiled,
“we don’t need to cause I promise you I just want to talk am not going to touch you. ”
Maria looked at him shocked, Paul had surprised her. She had even thought he was like anyone
else who paid for s€× but when he metioned the issue of just talking she was so surprised.
In the room Paul had started talking about so many things, he’s job and his family. All this time
Maria listened quitely and sometimes when Paul would mention his nephew’s and sister Maria
could smile knowing how every one she left was fairing.
She learnt that Margret had decided to stop going to the shop and that she decided to start
international business and left workers at the shops. Which explained why Maria never found her
the last time she went to stalk her from the shop.
Paul told her he had moved out of his sisters house and was now staying alone, but she didn’t
bother to ask where.
For some time she just stayed put and took in his stories and she couldn’t help feel Paul sounded
sort of sad.
“Well you have a great life Paul , you are a lucky man” she told him finally.
“Am not so lucky my dear I just can’t find love but that’s a story for another day” he smiled in the
dark and Maria could feel his body relax as they both lay on their backs on the bed facing the roof.
“I have to go now, she told him and walked out of the room after Paul paid her her bill.
She went home and the feel of Paul close to her stuck with her. .
She walked back feeling indifferent.
“Why didn’t he talk about that girl he’s always with” Maria wondered to herself .
She wished she had asked more about his family but that was going to sell her out. She smiled at
the thought of Jake and his cheerful nature.
Wishing somehow she got to where Jake had told her she could reach.
“The sky is a limit for you my dear,” she recalled him telling her.
“Well, am sorry Jake,” she whispered to herself as she held her son close in bed, “the sky is too
high for me now. Am not so light to fly that high. My life has been tinted with so much darkness
even the atmosphere can’t contain it. Am grounded and maybe this is my fate.”