Ruby
“She found hair in her food, and I was trying to get her another after apologising.” I explained as Danny came to stand by my side. Danny glanced at the disgruntled customer and then turned her attention to me.
“This ugly fool tried to poison me just because I warned her not to look at my man in a slutty way and stop being a slut. If you want me to keep eating here, then you will have to fire her.”
“What.” I gasped.
“You heard me right. Fire this dirty-looking ugly bitch or else I will make sure I ruin your restaurant forever.” She smirked, folding her hands, and my steps fell back in shock.
I looked at the man almost in tears, and I saw him make a sign with his hands, which said I should call him. I scoffed, and before I could open my mouth to give the shameless woman a piece of my mind, I felt Danny’s hands on mine as she touched my arms, holding me back.
“Don’t worry, Ruby. I will take care of this. Go on, you have a visitor.”
“B-but,”
“No, but Ruby. Just go to the back entrance and find out.”
“Are you sure?” I insisted.
“Just go. I will handle this,” she screamed, and I nodded my head, reluctantly suppressing the urge to retort, and headed back to the kitchen. The whole incident had left a bitter taste in my mouth, a stark reminder of the prejudice I faced daily.
This marked the first time in seven years that Danny raised her voice, and it gnawed at me. Perhaps the woman was right. Danny needed to let me go before I ruined her business.
I needed to leave and find another path in life. But what about Alex? How would I care for him? My grandmother had practically exhausted her life savings on us, and it would be unfair to keep burdening her.
Tears filled up in my eyes as I removed my apron and hair net, dropped them on the table, and walked towards the back entrance.
The day wasn’t even half way yet, but I was already fucking tired and exhausted, and the only thing I wanted to do was crawl into bed and cuddle with my son Alex, listening to his warm heartbeat.
My son Alex, I hurt him.
Getting to the back entrance, I saw a well-dressed woman standing there, and she looked so familiar, and when she removed her glasses, I immediately recognised her as Alex Principal. She was beautiful and young, and one would believe that she was almost in her mid-forties.
The power of money.
She was a woman I had tried so hard to avoid for almost two years, and now she was here, and I suspected my grandmother had told her where I worked after all my warnings.
Right now, I was in no mood for her.
“If the banana doesn’t come to the monkey, then the monkey will have no choice but to go to the banana,” she joked, trying to lighten up the mood as she sensed my uneasiness.
“I don’t have time for jokes. Why are you here?” I rolled my eyes.
“You know why I am here.” She grinned, and I raised my eyebrows at her.
“I have sent my grandmother to you a thousand times, and I hope you are aware that you just wasted your time coming here because this won’t change anything. My son isn’t going to the werewolf academy, and that’s final.”
“Why’s that?”
“It’s none of your business.” I muttered, resisting the urge to drag my hair out in frustration.
“Oh dear, then you are mistaken. Alex was very much my business the moment you decided to send him to my school. For Moon Goddess’ sake, that little boy is brilliant and has great potential. Why are you being a witch by trying to hide his talent and destiny?”
“I don’t have money to send him to an expensive werewolf academy. We can barely eat a day.” I tried to reason, and right now I am about to lose my job.
“That’s not enough reason, Ruby. Your son deserves the best because he is an intelligent young man.” I scoffed at her words, glaring at her.
You can say whatever you want, but he’s my son, and I decide what’s best for him. I am his mother. You won’t understand that since you don’t have children yourself,” I said with a smirk, watching the smile on her face drop at my harsh truth.
Before I could turn to walk away, her hand held me back, and I felt a sharp pain ache through my face.
She had slapped me hard.
The sharp sting resonated through my cheek, and I felt a mix of surprise, pain, and shame. My eyes widened as her hurt gaze met mine, and the realisation hit me that I had crossed a line. The tension between us grew, filled with a complex blend of emotions-anger, resentment, and an underlying sorrow.
I sighed, trying to express genuine remorse at my choice of words.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. Alex should be my top priority, yet I’ve been selfish. You’ve been nothing but good to me.” I bowed my head shamefully, recalling how she enrolled Alex in her school despite my inability to pay for his fees due to unemployment. Now, I regretfully acknowledge using her pain against her.
“I understand that you’re in pain, but Alex’s future should be your concern, and you should be happy enough that he got what he deserves through scholarship. We can’t change the events of the past, just as I can’t change mine.” She smiled sadly.
“I don’t want to burden you with my pain.”
“Your grandmother told me everything you’ve been through, and because of that, I respect you and see you as a very strong woman. Pain may make you cry, but it can also help you find a new way, and that’s strength,” she said, holding my hands reassuringly.
“You’re very wrong. I’m the weakest woman ever. I barely survived and placed all my frustration on my son. I don’t have any strength,” I confessed.
“You do, Ruby. You have enough strength, and you’re going to use that. Turn your pain into strength. Let everyone who hurt you pay for what they did. Show that they didn’t break you, and make them regret betraying you.”
“I can?”
“Yes, Ruby, you can. See this as an opportunity for you and your son,” she said, turning to leave.
I felt a mix of vulnerability and hope as her words sank in, contemplating the possibility of transforming my pain into a source of strength for both myself and my son, and all I knew was that she was right and it was high time I let go of my pain and stopped hurting the people around me.