Chapter 2 Sleeping with Him
Alison quickly wrapped herself in a towel and approached the door, her emotions all over the place. Her hand shook as she reached for the doorknob. She was ready to give herself to him, so she wouldn't have any regrets.
She cracked the door open, and there stood Jackson.
He looked a bit stunned, and in a flash, he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
"Alison, you... you..." He seemed completely taken aback.
It wasn't his fault. Since they'd met, this was the first time she'd shown herself to him like this.
With her head slightly bowed, she was also shocked by her own actions.
"Alison..." Jackson took a deep breath, then gently scooped her up and laid her on the bed, covering her with a sheet.
"You're such a silly girl. No matter what happens, you'll always be my Alison." His voice was so clear and soothing that it brought tears to her eyes. She couldn't hold back her sorrow and buried her face in his chest, sobbing uncontrollably.
She stayed wrapped in the blanket, nestled in Jackson's arms for a long time. She couldn't remember how long she cried, only that Jackson held her tightly the entire time, never letting go.
Eventually, exhausted from crying, she closed her eyes and whispered to Jackson, "I'm tired. I want to sleep for a bit." She felt utterly drained, as if she hadn't slept at all the night before.
He bent down and, as if lifting a child, effortlessly picked her up and carefully placed her on the small bed in her tiny room. It was one of the cheapest rentals in the city.
Jackson tucked her in, making sure the blanket was snug, and gently said, "Alison, sleep well. I'll stay with you."
She lay there, feeling the warmth of Jackson's care, her heart filled with a comforting warmth.
He stood up, his tall frame casting a shadow that made her feel a bit overwhelmed.
She couldn't muster the courage to ask him to take her.
Earlier, she had stood before him with nothing on, yet he hadn't reacted at all, making her hesitant to make any bold moves.
He was completely unaware, simply concerned for her well-being.
He chose not to ask questions, perhaps to avoid hurting her.
"Stay with me, just lie here with me for a while, okay?"
Alison asked cautiously.
He gently wiped away her tears and softly whispered in her ear, "Alison, no matter what happens, I'll be here with you. Just don't disappear from my life suddenly. It scares me, and I worry."
She saw the redness in Jackson's eyes, knowing he hadn't slept all night searching for her.
The two of them squeezed onto the small bed and slowly drifted off to sleep, comforted by each other's presence.
When she woke up, Jackson was gone. On the small table by the bed, a note caught her eye.
She reached for it. It was from him, explaining that there was an urgent matter at work, and he would come back to see her after his night shift.
But would she still be there that evening?
She hadn't eaten all day but wasn't hungry. She lay lazily in bed, staring blankly out the window as the sun slowly set.
She wasn't afraid of the dark or the night. Even as the lights outside flickered on, casting her small room into deeper darkness, it didn't matter to her.
What she feared now was the light.
She was afraid of seeing people, any people.
And most of all, she feared the stranger who would appear in her bed at ten o'clock that night.
Time ticked by like the second hand of a clock. Alison wanted to forget about time, to ignore it, but it was impossible.
What was meant to come would come.
Tomorrow was destined to be the start of another disaster.
She slowly sat up. Alison had to leave early; the place was a bit far and required two bus rides.
Everything felt so natural, as if she were going to meet Jackson, but only she knew that after tonight, everything she knew would change.
She took with her not just herself but also her simple belongings from the room.
She wouldn't be coming back to this room.
After tonight, she wouldn't see Jackson again.
The landlord asked her reluctantly, "Miss Fairchild, are you sure you want to move out?"
"Yes, I found a job, but it's a bit far, so I have to move. Thank you for everything." She smiled serenely. After a day of sleep, she could face anything calmly.
In truth, taking that step wasn't hard. The hard part was making the decision and finding the courage.
As she boarded the bus, she picked up her phone and sent Jackson a text: Don't look for me. Goodbye!
It was cruel, but there was no other way.
She turned off her phone. She might never use that number again.
Arriving at the busiest part of the city, Alison approached the building she was headed to, her mind calm and untroubled.
This deal was bound to cost her dearly. No matter how she looked at it, she was the one losing out.
Following the address from the email, she found the place.
To her surprise, there was a potted cactus at the door, a plant she liked very much.
She stood there for a moment, then took a deep breath and pulled out the key she had prepared, unlocking the door.
As she pushed the door open, she was met with darkness. The man wasn't there; the room was filled with silence and solitude.
But once he arrived, her world would change completely.
The old Alison would no longer exist.
The lights were off, but the faint light from outside allowed her to get a rough idea of the apartment. It was luxurious, with a large living room that had a bar in one corner, a bedroom, and a kitchen.
She cautiously walked into the bedroom, as if afraid of waking someone.
But she was the only one there.
The bedroom had an attached bathroom.
She glanced at the clock by the bed and saw that it was half an hour until ten. So, just like earlier, she undressed and stepped into the bathroom.
When she turned on the bathroom light, the mirrors on all four walls reflected her image, surrounding her.
This was what men liked, she thought.
After her shower, she carefully dried herself off, blow-dried her hair, and then slowly walked out of the bathroom.
The room was still dark, so Alison slipped under the covers.