Olivia had fucked 15 men tonight, yet she was 10 dollars short of what she should have been paid. A shiver went down her spine, knowing her John would want his cut. He wouldn’t be happy knowing she’d lost out on some cash, no matter how little the missing amount was.

After counting the cash one more time, she got in her car and took a deep breath before starting the engine. “He won’t hit me this time. He promised not to do it again.” She touched her face, feeling the tender, bruised area just below her cheekbone. The last time Marcus had socked Olivia for a cash shortage, he’d damn near knocked her teeth out. After all, he didn’t want his girls spending his money on crank.

Olivia drove downtown, making her way to the apartment she shared with Marcus and 3 other women. She was anxiety ridden and fearful that Marcus would actually beat her to the point of killing her this time. In fact, she was so distracted with her worries that she almost hit a semi, swerved, and rolled off the road into a nearby ditch.

The next thing Olivia knew, she awoke in a hospital room. Groaning in pain she rubbed her forehead and pressed the call button for a nurse. “Hello, you were in quite the accident. Do you remember going off the road?” The nurse asked. Olivia nodded, and rubbed what felt like a cut lip. “Honey, is there anyone we can call?” Pressed the nurse. “Uh, yeah. Just my kid’s dad.” Mumbled Olivia.

A few hours later Olivia’s ex boyfriend, Jarrod showed up. Their twin children on each side of him, holding his hands. Olivia swelled with pride seeing how much Tommy and Josie had grown up. When the kids were born, before the crank addiction had stolen her life, she was a proud mama of a baby boy and girl. Now she was a stranger to them. A crank whore. A fuck up. Worthless.

“Why are we here Olive? The kids..they don’t even know you.” Jarrod demands, red faced and angry. “I know. I know Jare, and I’m so sorry. Fuck, I’m sorry. I just didn’t know who to call. My family. They hate me. Everyone..Everyone hates me.” Olivia pleads. “Someone stiffed me on cash, and Marcus..he’s gonna kill me eventually…he gets really pissed about the money.”

“That’s why you called us here?? For my money!!” Jarrod hollers. A concerned nurse peaks in the room from the hallway. “Olivia you picked Marcus over me, over the kids. Shit, you picked dope over us. You are sick! I am a single dad trying to make it alone. Why don’t you just disappear?” He scoops up the girl into his arms and continues to hold the boy’s hand. The family leaves the room. Olivia is alone again.

Olivia covered her face with her hand and sobbed. She began to crave it all. Heroin, crank, crystal. That would take the pain away. Who cares about being alone when you can’t feel it? She knew where to get her fix. “Who cares if he beats my ass?” She thought.

Marcus showed up and an hour later. His presence seemed to darken the room. “I see you wrecked, girl.” He murmured. “Yeah, stupid me.” Olivia winced. Feeling a sting in her ribs from the wreck. Marcus closed the hospital room door slowly, as if in secret. Then he walks over to Olivia and smacks her face. The pain is overwhelming, but Olive knows to stay quiet.

“ You could have died without paying me. You get that? I’m running a business here.” He says, grabbing her face. She nods, knowing that disagreeing with Marcus could kill her. He lets go of her face. Feeling some withdrawal, she asks, “Got any H honey? I’m feeling sick.”

He sneers and climbs on top of her. The paper hospital gown is easy for him to lift. She lays lifeless on the bed. This isn’t the first time this has happened. “Why fight it? It’ll be over soon. She thought. He enters her, groaning and taking his fill.

The hospital door opens. The nurse screams in horror after seeing Marcus violate Olivia. Marcus looks up to see the nurse and quickly hops off Olivia and stands up, pants still around his ankles. There’s a terrified look in his eyes. He knows he’s been caught.

Hearing the nurse scream, Jarrod rushes into the hospital room with his handgun ready to fire. Red faced and angry, he puts a bullet in Marcus’ chest. The scumbag pimp, falls to the ground, lifeless and no longer a threat. Olivia looks wide eyed and remains silent. The nurse balls up in the corner. People in hallway scream, hearing the gunshot. Jarrod walks over to Olivia and sits next to her on the hospital bed, taking her in in his arms, kissing her hair.

“Baby, you’re free now. Get sober.” He whispers, pleading with his love.