Adeline
“I’d like to check in, please.”
“Name?”
“Adeline Marshall. I can’t believe I’m actually checking into The Etoile Hotel.” The squeal the comes out of my mouth causes the clerk to give me a hard lined smile, probably annoyed that yet another overly excited guest is standing here thrilled about staying at a hotel she sees every single day, but what she doesn’t understand is that I’ve been saving to stay in this luxury hotel for nearly 4 years.
No PTO, no sick days, no vacations. Every extra penny I made at my quiet little desk job has paid for this weekend and it’s not even the whole weekend. It’s for one night leading into my birthday.
Even standing in the gorgeous golden lobby, my pulse raced with anticipation, every detail dazzling beneath the chandelier’s light, a far cry from my usual routine of blinding fluorescents and coffee-stained spreadsheets. Despite the floor being marble, it seemed to almost soften the ache of all those years sacrificing rest and relaxation for just one unforgettable night or maybe that’s me being delusional. Nonetheless, I cling to the hope that this, meticulously saved for and dreamed about weekend, would somehow close a void that been filled with sadness for most of my life.
“Okay, you’re in the Noir Suite.” Without any of my enthusiasm, the clerk reaches into her pocket to retrieve a set of keys. I try not to watch too hard as she unlocks a special drawer, pulling out a matte black room key. “This key allows you access to the private spa amenities and specialty services. You can also reserve a private car if you wish to leave the hotel.”
“Thank you!” It isn’t until she gently places the card into my hand that I believe that this all is real and not some dream I’m going to wake up from any second. It’s hard to believe that I’m finally here despite all the nay sayers who told me that I’d be wasting my money. I could kiss myself for not changing my plans no matter how much I was beginning to develop buyer’s remorse from the negativity.
Up until this moment, I was guilt ridden about dropping such a large amount of money one weekend in a specific suite, but standing here now, I’ve quickly realized that I’ve earned every bit of this luxury, and nothing short of a cosmic disaster could take it away from me. Heck, I bet the clerk’s interest would pique if she knew I went as far as dumping my boyfriend two days ago because I refused to let him spoil my birthday after he informed me that he had planned nothing for my birthday other than coming on this overnight trip with me, not even bothering to get me flowers or a gift.
I was so close to forgiving him due to not wanting to be here alone until I realized that I’d be spoiling my own trip by allowing him to come without even showing an ounce of care for me. Why would I pay $21,476…yes, I know…to spend what is supposed to be my best birthday with a sorry man? I’d spend the rest of my life looking back on tainted memories. It wasn’t worth it, so after he stormed out with his belongings, I drowned my sorrows by online shopping for a new sluttier birthday outfits and having them overnighted.
Once I’m free to go to my room, soak in as much as I can on the way to the elevator. Every person I pass looks like a millionaire in designer clothes with luggage that probably costs 10 times more than my shimmering lavender department store set. They’re used to being here, so the beauty and richness of the hotel no longer give them a rush. I, however, can’t stop my heart from thudding in my chest or my stomach from knotting.
I’d never left my little town until now, keeping my head down and doing four years of in-state college to get a degree in business. While other friends strove to be doctors or lawyers, I simply wanted a comfortable life that somehow made up for the hectic life I had growing up.
Having my parents both die when I was 7 and no other reliable family to take me in was traumatizing. Within a week of their deaths, I was thrown into a home with people I didn’t like or know. My first foster home quickly turned into my fourth and fifth due to bio kids hating me, fathers eye balling me, or mothers being jealous of me. All I wanted was family, someone to hug me and tell me that everything was going to be okay. I never received a love that remotely came close to the love I had ripped from me.
Thankfully, Mary, the 23 year old woman who had handled my case from day one took me in for high school and despite being a bit too young and too busy with her own life to fully pay attention to me, I had my own room, food, and empathy. It might’ve been less than what I was wishing for, but it was enough to help me heal.
Mary never tried to be a mom to me, more like a big sister, but she’ll always have a special place in my heart now that we no longer see each other. Halfway through my freshman year in college, a home visit turned violent and she was stabbed three times, traumatizing her so badly that she quit social work. Last I heard, she moved back to her hometown and works as a school guidance counselor. It’s crazy to think that I’m now 23 and don’t have her to celebrate with. I miss her a lot and like to think that she’d be proud to see me do what I always dreamed of.
Wide eyes and too pumped for words, I get on the elevator and am greeted with the hotel’s signature fragrance, a blend of fresh jasmine and warm sandalwood that makes me feel like I’ve stepped into a scene from a movie where everything finally goes right.
The soft hum of the elevator, accented by gold-plated buttons and a velvet bench, adds to the surreal sense of luxury as I ascend. I clutch the key card tightly, almost as if it’s a magic talisman that will unlock not just a lavish suite, but a future I’ve only ever glimpsed in late-night daydreams. Maybe I’m putting too much hope into this weekend, but I truly believe that once I’ve experienced this, nothing will be the same for me. My hometown will no longer serve me and I’ll get the nerve to move somewhere more thrilling.
As the doors slide open on the floor, my breath catches. This is the moment I’ve longed for, one I plan to savor, every detail and every feeling, letting it fill the empty spaces I’ve carried for so long.
There’s only three suites on this floor, giving the illusion of ultimate privacy, my breathing almost becoming too loud for the empty hallway. Slowly, I approach the door and when I hold my hand out to unlock it, I find my fingers trembling with nerves. When I open the door to this room, I’m either going to be blown away or experience the first pinch of regret for spending money on a suite that doesn’t live up to my ultimate expectations. I guess I’ll never know unless I go inside.
“Here goes nothing, Adeline.” I let out a soft breath before pressing the card to the reader, the lock clicking softly.
The first moment I step inside, I’m greeted with the same intoxicating aroma from the elevator as the door clicks closed behind me. My eyes scan over the living area, the black on black furniture against the gold contract accents make me feel like I’m in a different world. The lights are dim, creating a comforting vibe with a flare of sexual energy. Am I supposed to suddenly feel sexy in here because I do.
My shoulders straighten and I hold my head a little higher while making my way in with my bags. The bedroom catches my attention with sunlight spilling over a sprawling king bed dressed in black linen, shimmering against polished marble floors and a wall of windows that frame the city skyline. Every inch feels deliberate, sleek chairs, a vase of fresh lilies, glass bottles of water on the credenza, each detail a quiet promise that I belong here, if only for the weekend.
It takes everything in me not to jump up and down with excitement as I set my luggage by the bedroom door. My body calls for me to throw my body on the bed to test the bounce when the soft sound of running water catches my attention.
