Tales Of Humble Beginnings And Never Getting What You Want
Day 119 of The Andie Chronicles
The best part about living in Camberwell is the weekly market.
Every Sunday, the shopping district’s car park transforms into a blossoming second-hard market, where anyone can buy a spot and sell their wares.
It’s a cut-throat market, for the sellers.
You have to reserve your spots months in advance.
And hope the person next to you isn’t trying to sell the exact same things, undercutting your limited business opportunities.
There was always a spot I loved the most at the market; it was the stall next to the doughnut truck. Not only would you be right next to the doughnuts for a quick sugar fix, but you could also capitalise on the lines waiting.
As the people waited, you could sell to them, dazzle them with your charm and alluring products. You would have a line out front of your stall all the time by default.
Soon, after months of gaining exposure and popularity from the doughnut van, you wouldn’t need to fight for the spot. People would come to the market just for you.
I could smell the van as soon as I walked into the open air. Following the other patrons moving towards it, I found the lucky stall set up next to it. It was selling homemade jewellery, ornate necklaces and bracelets.
The woman sitting behind the stall table was hunched over, making creations underneath a thick knitted blanket. The blanket had seen better days.
Amongst her creations, I found a beaded amethyst necklace, simple like a row of pearls. It being my birthstone I had to have it. Picking up the strand I handed it to the woman.
“I would like to buy it, please.”
She smiled.
“Of course, dear. Do you need a bag?”
I shook my head. “No, but I would love to know something. How long have you been selling at the market?”
Her eyes lit up, her warm smile filling the cold air.
“For seventeen years, my dear. Every weekend once the market moved away from monthly to weekly.”
I felt this instant pang of jealousy for her. She was doing what she wanted. She was making her products and selling them, without the fancy office, without all the luxury.
And she was happy.
Blissfully happy from the smile on her face.
This is where I thought Highway would start. Selling at markets. Making cute clips on TikTok and posting them, hoping just one customer would see them.
I wanted to know what it was like to crawl before I ran. I wanted to look back on the process and say I did the hard yards first.
I could never have believed dating and breaking up with Douglas would be my hard yards. And I felt more shame for it than I could ever describe.
Leaving the market, licking the sugar from my fingertips, I walked back toward home. Tomorrow is my first day at Douglas’ offices, my first day facing the man who won’t leave my life alone.
Can I survive this?
Fuck, I hope so.
You’re reading The Andie Chronicles, the 2023 romance-fiction series from the 1 Lovelock Drive (1LD) universe.
Want to hear what happens next? Don’t forget to hit subscribe!
Want the full 1LD experience? Join hundreds of subscribers as we share behind-the-scenes and exclusive adventures on 1LD’s Substack (and it’s free to access!)