Chapter Forty-Six: Raccoon’s Decision:

Raccoon became the next one to up and leave me. I had to let her go anyway because she wasn’t happy with the life that she was leading. I decided to help her make the first step to freedom.

I invited her out on a night on the town. I insisted that it would be my treat. Raccoon didn’t know how to take this at first.

“I’m not so sure,” she said, “My pimp doesn’t want you with me anymore.”

“Screw him!” I said. “Just one little night out won’t kill you.” She paused over the phone.

“Are you sure it’ll be okay?” she asked.

“Yes,” I pressed. “I’ll pick you up in an hour.” I hung up on before she could say another word. Before I handed out, I made another call that I would need tonight.

“Hello?” I asked. “You busy at the moment? Great, I’ll need your help with something…”

Raccoon walked beside me looking nervous the whole time. I patted her on the shoulder. She looked over at me desperate eyes. I gave her a calm smile.

“It’ll be okay,” I whispered. “Really, just trust me.” Raccoon swallowed hard as she nodded. I gave her a little kiss on the cheek as if to promise her.

“Michael,” she murmured. “Where exactly are we going?” I held her hand.

“You’ll see in a moment,” I replied. I led her further into the darkness. The streetlights seemed to provide a little comfort for her. Her grip relaxed on my hand.

Yes, that’s it. I’ll save you from this life you have real soon.

I led her all the way the park. I scanned the darkness in hopes of being alone for this to work. Raccoon turned to me once we stopped walking.

“I don’t get it, why are we here?” she asked. The wind blew over the high trees. I didn’t answer her with my back turned. Violet stood on her tip-toes to look over my shoulder.

“Michael?” she asked again. I turned and grabbed her by the shoulders. She looked at me with big, wild eyes.

“Michael!” Raccoon yelped. I pushed her up against an oak tree and forced a kiss on her lips. She tried to fight me off, but I had already pinned her wrists to the tree. I looked her dead-on in the eye. Sorry to do this to you, Raccoon.

I reached forward and ripped open her blouse. Violet howled along with such shock that I had to put my hand over her mouth.

“It’s okay,” I whispered. “It’s okay.” Her eyes tearing up told me that she didn’t believe me. I gave her a small kiss on the neck.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” I whispered. “Just trust me on this.” Raccoon stared at me, still looking scared. I nibbled at her throat to reassure her. She trembled, but then tried to kiss me back. I playfully tackled her to the ground. The whole time, I kept watch for my friend. Raccoon put up her hand to stop me.

“Michael, wait,” she whimpered. I looked down at her. Her lips trembled as she tried to form words. My face twisted into a confused one.

“Hm?” I asked, “Did you say something?” I leaned my ear closer to her lips.

“Why?” Raccoon murmured at me. I pulled away, looking down.

“Why what?” I asked in a low voice.

“Please… stop…” Raccoon murmured. “You’re scaring me.”

“Why should I?” I challenged her. “This is really how I am.” Raccoon shook her head.

“No, it’s not!” she cried.

“How can you be so certain?”

“You’re the first man to actually treat me like a person!”

I unzipped my jeans with a dull stare. “I could have been lying before.”

Raccoon shakes her head. “No…”

I gave her a cold smirk. “Just go with it.” I leaned down and gave her another kiss. Raccoon tried to relax under me. I paused when a felt a light flashed on my back. Raccoon and I looked up to see my cop friend, Ralph walking over to us. I sat back with a cheesy grin on my face.

“Uh… good evening, officer,” I said in a fake innocent tone. Ralph flashed his light back and forth between us.

“What’s going on here?” he asked. I put up my hands at him.

“Nothing,” I pretended to lie, “I’m just out here with my girlfriend.” Ralph took a step closer with his light now focused on Raccoon.

“This looks like prostitution exchange going on here,” he said. Raccoon eyes grew big with such panic as she shook her head.

“No!” she yelped. I laughed it off.

“Oh come now, officer,” I said. “You know me, I wouldn’t do such a thing. I don’t pay for sex.” Ralph flashed his light back on me.

“How much money was going to go down in this exchange?” he asked. I looked over at Raccoon.

“Tell the nice man how much,” I said. Raccoon sat up trembling as she buttoned up her cream-colored blouse.

“Zero,” she mumbled.

“Excuse me?” I asked.

“Zero!” Violet said louder. I turned back to my friend.

“There you see,” I said, “It can’t considered solicitation with no money involved. We’re just two lovers enjoying the open outdoors with a spot of passion. We’re not even naked.” By now, Raccoon couldn’t figure out what was going on. Ralph acted like he was thinking about this before he nodded.

“Fair enough,” he said. “You have good night.” We didn’t move until we were that he had gone. I zipped up my trousers and turned to Raccoon.

“I’m so sorry to do all of this to you,” I murmured. She stared at me with those big eyes of hers.

“W-W-W-Why would you do this to me?” she asked. I placed my hand on her shoulder.

“You can’t be happy with how things are now,” I came out to her.

“What do you mean?” she asked with those eyes of her like a dead doll’s. I grabbed onto her hands.

“You admitted it yourself,” I pointed out. “You’re not happy, your pimp scares you, and you’re just broken.”

“But it doesn’t matter when I’m with you,” she tried to argue to me.

“That’s part of the problem,” I cut her off. “I can’t always be there for you. You can’t spend your whole life waiting for the right man to come along and hold you up.” I let go of Raccoon’s hands. “You need to learn how to stand up on your two feet and fix yourself.” Raccoon peered at me, trying to understand what I was getting at with her.

“So… are you breaking up with me?” she asked. I patted her on the head.

“This isn’t coming easy on me either,” I admitted with serenity in my voice. “I would love to stay around and be with you more than a plaything. But, I told you that I’m leaving for France in three weeks. I would love to take you with me, however, I feel that’s not a great idea. Where you stand, I don’t think you are stable enough to be far away from all that you are comfortable with in another country.”

“When will you be back?” she asked.

“Years at best,” I said. “Don’t bother waiting for me to return. We might end up moving on in the end.”

“But, what am I supposed to do?” Raccoon asked. I backed up from her.

“That’s for you to figure out once you get back up and heal,” I said. “You are better than this and I know you can give yourself more than this crappy city already has. You have to get out and live for yourself for a change. If that involves me leaving you so that you can do, I’ll do it over and over again until you are truly happy. So, this is goodbye, little Raccoon.” I rose to my feet and offered my hand to help her up. We didn’t talk as I walked her to the bus station. I gave her a small wave as she got on and rode away.

Okay, Violet. I let you go to be your own woman. Let’s see what your next move will be.