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GOING DOWN IN GOTHAM

CHAPTER ONE

Alone in Gotham

On the wall across from where I was standing was a picture that caught my eye. I was drawn to the ancient old barn and a small duck next to a couple bails of hay, the sky was a stormy blue, and a dark winding road veered off to the right. There was something about the road that intrigued me. It appeared to be an entrance way into a darkened tunnel, a gateway into mysterious and secret world hidden from most.

My mind drifted to images of my mother reading me “The Secret Garden.” A story about a child who discovered a forgotten magical place that would come alive when visited. The tangled vines and over grown flower beds knotted in weeds seemed so inviting to me. I recalled wishing I could jump into that book and live there. I felt safety, solitude and beauty in that story, and this mysterious painting made me feel the same.

Unfortunately that was a very fleeting moment, as I turned around to a room of  six women of various ages and backgrounds who were seated on metal fold up chairs in a small circle.

A goth chick dressed in uniform black with a shrunken top hat pinned to the side of her head was the only one who hadn’t looked up from her romance novel.

Ok, what the hell am I doing?  Why am I here? I can’t talk about personal things in front of people, especially about my break up. This is a total waste of time, and the absolute last time I listen to Vanessa and her suggestions on how I should and could better my life. I mean what’s so wrong with my life anyway?

I was trying to straighten up, turn the page, begin a new chapter. So maybe it was taking me a few extra months to begin that new chapter. Today I found myself in a room of troubled strangers, who believed crystals were the new in tool to healing ones self from daily grievances.

I wish I’d never met my bastard cheating husband. Now, I was all alone in New York City after following him, and his wretched band from our home town of London.

So maybe I could use a tiny bit of help, everyone needs a little direction once in a while.

I scanned the room, to see what type of person actually falls for this new age crystal healing nonsense.

I focused on a sweet looking Patti Smith look-alike with a permanent smile on her face. The all natural type who sees good in everyone and doesn’t shave her legs.

I wondered what the goth chick was going to divulge to the group? Perhaps some morbid fascination with the dead, or maybe she’s one of those modern day vampires that I’d seen on a recent Sally Jesse Raphael afternoon talk show.

I shifted from leg to leg self-consciously waiting for the doctor at arrive. Eyes darted around to each woman in the room.

What did they think about me? I looked good, I mean, I looked like a Londoner, the two cities had distinctive fashion sence. I needed to trim my long dark hair, and I never left the house without heavy black eyeliner and ruby red lips. I stood out in New York, and My Vivienne Westwood boots probably weren’t being properly appreciated. I had tried to blend into the downtown scene in my tight black jeans and Blondie T-shirt, the one with the picture of Debbie from Rip her to Shreds.

Vanessa had suggested I check out this new age crystal healing therapy group. She had gone a number of times six months ago when she was having trust issues with Billy. The doctor had told her she was carrying bad energy from her childhood, and promptly removed the ‘badness’ with a few waves of her crystal wand. I was skeptical to say the least. Vanessa seemed certain I was never going to find true love until I removed all the ‘negative energy’ my soon to be ex husband had dumped on me.

I made the appointment and promised to go, mainly so Vanessa would shut the hell up about it. From what she had told me about Doctor Cornwell I just couldn’t imagine she was anything more than a gypsy taking vulnerable women’s money, but here I was standing in a room with six other easy marks.

Just as I was thinking about slipping out of the door and making a run for it, Doctor Cornwell glided in. Her eyes immediately caught mine. She was carrying a chair.

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