Unmasked Desires

Alexis! Get downstairs! Breakfast, now!" her mother's voice echoed through the house.

"I'm coming, Ma!" Alexis called back, rushing down the stairs. She grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl, heading toward the door.

"Won't you eat something, Alexis?" her mom asked, but Alexis didn't respond.

She reached for the doorknob, about to leave, when she turned back and glanced at the table. A smirk tugged at her lips. "Ma, there's barely enough on that table for you and Suzy. I'm good. I have to go to work."

She turned again to leave.

"What about school? You're not going?" her mom asked, voice heavy with concern.

"Mom, we need to pay rent for this month and next. I need to work back-to-back. We can't depend on you alone. You're drinking more than you're earning." Alexis's eyes darted to the empty beer bottles stacked in the corner. Her mother let out a weary sigh.

As she stepped outside, Alexis spotted a pile of bills on the porch. Unfazed, she gathered them up, slipping them into her bag with a sigh. It was just another day of survival.

***

By the time Alexis returned home that evening, the weight of responsibility had pressed down on her even harder. The dimly lit house felt more like a burden than a comfort. Her mother was slouched on the couch, glass in hand, while Suzy sat on the steps, looking abandoned.

"Suzy, did you eat?" Alexis asked, already knowing the answer.

Suzy nodded, but her eyes betrayed the truth.

With a sigh, Alexis headed to the kitchen. The fridge was nearly empty, save for some leftover pizza. She reheated it and sat at the table, counting the day's earnings, trying to make sense of their ever-growing debt.

The clinking of her mother's glass made her pause.

"Welcome home, honey," her mother slurred.

"Hi, Ma." Alexis took a deep breath, trying to keep her patience. "So, how much did you make this month? I already paid the urgent fees-water, electricity. Whatever you have left needs to go toward food, Suzy's meds, and school fees."

Her mother fumbled through her pockets and pulled out a crumpled bill. "Twenty bucks."

Alexis's heart sank. "Twenty bucks? Mom, we have over a million dollars of debt! Dad died just five months ago, and we're drowning. I dropped out of college so we could afford SUZY's school, and you've become a drunk. I'm not your mom, you know? I'm your daughter. You need to start showing up for Suzy. This is unbearable."

Tears welled up in her eyes, her voice cracking with frustration. She grabbed her bag and the pizza, heading upstairs without waiting for a response.

**

The next morning was painfully quiet. Alexis, lost in the pile of bills, didn't even notice her mother until she spoke.

"Alexis," her mom's voice was soft, almost unfamiliar. "I know I haven't been much help since your dad passed. It's just... been hard. But I'm going to stop drinking. I promise. I'll get sober. I love you and Suzy. I just... I want to do better."

Tears shimmered in her mother's eyes as she squeezed Alexis's hand.

"I know, Ma," Alexis replied, feeling a flicker of hope. "I love you too."

She kissed her mother's cheek before grabbing her bag. "I've gotta go to work. I'm taking extra shifts. I'll see you later."

---

At the local event planning company, Alexis approached her boss, MR. Johnson, nervously.

"Hey, Mr. J, any chance I could pick up an extra shift? Things are tight at home."

He gave her a warm smile. "Of course, Alexis. You've been doing great work. I'll bump up your pay, too."

Relief washed over her. "Thank you! I'll do my best."

"There's a special delivery tonight-some coolers to a club. Think you can handle that?" MR. Johnson asked.

"Absolutely," Alexis nodded, eager to take on the task.

---

Later that night, she arrived at the club, her heart racing as she prepared to set up the coolers. Just as she reached for the door, someone on the other side opened it, knocking her back into the table. Coolers tipped over, drinks spilled, and Alexis found herself drenched.

She looked up, stunned, as the man who caused the mess just stood there, his phone to his ear.

"Wait, I'm on my way down," he muttered into the phone before turning to leave.

Fuming, Alexis stormed up to him. "Are you blind? Didn't you see what just happened upstairs?"

He glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "What happened upstairs?"

"You've got to be kidding me! Who's going to pay for the wasted drinks? Pay up," she demanded.

"Why should I? That was your mess."

"You can't be serious. You opened the door without looking! Fine, we can both pay. But I'm sorry," she said, expecting at least a hint of remorse.

Instead, he walked up to her, brushing his fingers along her cheek, sending her heart racing. She swallowed, unsure of how to react.

He leaned in close to her ear. "Get lost. I don't appreciate attention-seeking women."

Stunned, she stood there, lost in her thoughts, as he flashed a grin and walked away.

"Hey! Stop right there!" Alexis shouted.

The man stopped, sighing in frustration, but before she could say another word, a van sped past and hit him.

She watched, horrified, as he rolled over the hood, hitting the ground hard, blood pooling beneath him. The driver didn't stop he just adjusted his mirror, looked back, and drove off.

Alexis's heart raced. She moved toward the man, who lay there, coughing up blood, trying to speak.

"Help..." he managed, stretching a weak hand toward her.

Before she could reach him, a hand grabbed her arm.

"Alexis, let's go!" her mother hissed, pulling her back.

"Mom, what are you doing here? He's going to die!"

"Let him die. We don't need the police on our backs. Suzy called. We need to go home."

Alexis looked back at the man, his hand dropping lifelessly to the ground.