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AS THE SUN SANK OVER the Las Vegas strip, hues of orange and gold danced across every shiny, reflective surface that protruded into the sky It was a balmy Nevada summer, and the desert heat electrified the blood in my veins as my tires screeched over the asphalt at breakneck speed
Lana Del Ray blasted fro red Audi TTS while the breeze stirred blond strands of hair around hts flashed in ers tapping the steering wheel in time to the music
I loved this city The constant on switch The obnoxious noise It was sensory overload twenty-four seven, and you could never feel alone in a place like this Las Vegas was awith outcasts and outliers I’d never felt like I belonged anywhere rasp with the turbulent uncertainties of every passing day Bittersweet memories evaporated into the ater my safe place
Regardless of the dismal forecast of my future, there wasn’t ti to a halt in front of the valet stand at the Venetian, I checked my lipstick in the mirror and snatched er seat The valet rushed to open hted with desperation to please me I thanked him as he handed me a claim ticket That should have been the end of our interaction, but it never was Instead of ju space, he lingered as his eyes wandered over ut, the typical response I had when ether with a plastic smile and a robot heart
It really wasn’t his fault I’d intentionally chosen themen to their knees The black spandex fabric painted every curve it touched, leaving a sh where the asyenes, s were one of my best features, and I displayed the casinos But the baby-faced valet was not et audience
I offered hi there slack-jawed as I walked away My black Louis Vuitton pumps clapped over the cobblestone as another patron rushed to open the door for me, despite the fact there was a dedicated employee to do just that He winked at me, and I dipped my head in appreciation as I ducked inside
As I sucked in a lungful of recycled casino air, y My body always cah it had been born out of necessity, the adrenaline rush that followed every job was a stark re of bones, tainted by the tragedy rotting me from the inside out
“B!” A wispy fra me with a mischievous smile
I halted and inventoried Trouble’s raggedy appearance “What are you doing here?”
“I’ onit would be the Venetian today”
Despite the constant pressure churning in ed at ers of y behavior I acted like it was an annoyance, but secretly, it was a relief so out for me
Many ht, I found the hoh the casino She was a hot mess Too thin Hair in desperate need of a brush Her clothes were at least two sizes too big, and her face was sht she looked familiar, but in retrospect, I kneas simply that she felt fairl was me—when life was harder, and I didn’t have a closet full of pretty things I didn’t know her, but I felt protective of her She ate like a Viking at a medieval banquet when I treated her to a meal, and my conscience couldn’t let it rest I secured her a hotel rooht her clothes from the closet I shared with my sister Pretty soon, I had her set up in a studio aparterator full of food Now she followed ot, but I didn’t mind She was the only real friend I’d ever had