In a weeks time, things were back to normal. Or as normal as things ever got when you worked days and nights in a management position at a strip club. Rob was officially my boyfriend and whether or not I wanted to admit it, it wasn't the worst.

"Reina?" A small voice accompanied by a certain Julie peeked around the corner of my office. "Yay! You're here! I'm eighteen now for real you know. So I can actually do custodial work for you guys!"

"That's great!" I laughed, putting away my work. As we were only open at night, my days were spent working on financial paperwork (we did not have an accountant) as well as overseeing cleaning and repairs. Having something else to do, or someone else to talk to, was extremely welcomed.

Nights were different. Then, I could yes, go to the back and work on important paperwork, answer important emails, plan and prep for functions, etc. but I could also be out on the floor watching over my dancers to keep them safe and comfortable feeling. Some nights, I even had to step in as a sort of therapist to a dancer or help our bouncer escort out a rude customer.

The best part of my job though, was getting to watch my girls do their dancing. It wasn't in a sexual way I enjoyed it, no, instead it was a feeling of pride, like a mother hen watching her chicks take flight for the first time. I knew the girls here worked hard on their dancing, really earning the money they made and that it was my job to make sure they were in an environment where they could feel confident with their own bodies without being harassed. Something that would never be possible for me.

"So," Julie started, what are you up to today?"

"Not much," I laughed. "This work may be important, but it sure is boring."

"Ew," she announced loudly.

"Hm?"

"I see numbers." She pretended to vomit. "Math was so last year. I didn't graduate high school just to have to do more math."

"Right?" I laughed aloud. "It's not fair." Julie started to laugh along side me.

"Knock knock?" Rob's head peeked around the corner of my office door. He had taken his role of boyfriend to heart and had started bringing me lunches everyday.

"Hey there," I responded, a smile filling up my face like it did every time I saw him.

"Here's your lunch, Snookums," he dropped the bag off on my desk and leaned over, to give me a peck on the lips surprising me.

"Oh! Thank you," I smiled.

"Of course, Poopsie," he responded.

I cringed. Whatever happened to "Sweetie" or "Darling"? Poopsie sounded like, well.... whatever it was I hoped it wasn't me.

"Will I see you between shifts my Sexy Pants?" he asked.

"My God Rob, I am at work here, remember?" I growled, blushing fiercly.

"She must be the only sexy pants you own," cackled Julie, cutting in.

"Alright, alright. I'll go now," Rob sighed, finally getting the hint. "See you later, Muffin-ator."

"In a while Cocky-dile," I recited blandly.

"Oh my goodness," Julie exclaimed, howling with laughter. "Muffin-ator, Cocky-dile, and," she started snorting uncontrollably, "Puh Puh Poopsie!?" she screamed.

"Uh huh," I responded, hiding my face behind my lunch. "That's my boyfriend."

"Ooo," Julie said, shaping up fast. "You have a boyfriend? What's he like? Oh right, he's a big fat 'Cocky-dile!'" And it was back into the fit of giggles for her.

"He's not fat," I grumbled lamely.

"Oh, so he's small?" Julie asked, genuinely curious.

"Will you shut it? I have work to do!" I declared, getting to my feet and attempting to shove Julie out the door.

"At least it doesn't get in the way when he has to take a 'Poopsie'," she crowed, apparently unable to shut it.

"Get out of here!" And with one last heave, Julie was out in the hall, the door, slamming in her face.

"Enjoy your lunch, Snookums," Julie screamed outside my door. Unable to take anymore of it, I yanked off my heel and hurled it at the door. With a bang, it landed on the floor.

I sat back in my chair and began to laugh. I laughed so hard my shoulders shook and tears streamed down my face. I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. I laughed so hard that I realized what joke my life was and how I needed an out. This wasn't what I wanted my life to be, full of boring work, no fun, constant worry about rent and, ugh, Cocky-diles.

"I'm so jealous of you, you've finally gotten yourself a good boyfriend!" Nicole applauded.

"We couldn't do this without you," My girls praised me nightly.

"You're finally getting your nice, stable life together," my mother proudly announced during our last phone call.

"I love you," Rob whispered in my ear last night.

When everyone else is so happy with your life, how is it fair to ruin their perception of things and tell them the truth, that in reality, you can't stand one bit of it? Do you stay silent and march forward along the path of life like nothing is wrong? Or do you stand up and fix the wrong things, even if it means potentially sacrificing the good parts?