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Gertie 30

While Gertie remained outside the restaurant. She heard a voice hollering at her.

“Gertie, we have a long shift ahead again today.”

Gertie took a big sigh and came back inside.

Max, the cook, had called her back inside. He did not want her to get hollered at by the boss, Vic. After all, Max really liked Gertie, but he was too shy to let her know. All he wanted was for her to be happy.

Gertie worked so hard, and those in the town of Duncan knew all that she earned went towards helping her ailing father. However, the owner of the restaurant Vic was way harsh with her. He overworked her too much, and sometimes Gertie felt like quitting, but she knew it would hurt her father. For now, work would have to take over, and her dreams of another life would have to wait.

Sadly, inside, Gertie was holding a secret. She kept to herself. It filled her with sadness and depression. Each night that her work she headed home to care for her dad. Gertie would sit outside and drink her sorrows away with tequila.  It wasn’t every night, but when she drank, it was excessive. Alcohol seemed to numb the pain. She knew it was wrong. But when she closed her eyes. Gertie could envision her lying in the middle of a field covered with wildflowers as she walked right through it as she dreamt of the life in college that she never got.

Okay, enough, she scolded herself.  Daddy must come first! Tears streamed down her face, and she quickly wiped them. She kept herself guarded and did not want to have her father worry about her. I need to control myself.   I wish I could stop hurting.  Then she walked inside the house.