One Night,One Stranger,One Fate

The room was too small for the weight of Esme’s frustration. It clung to the walls, thick and suffocating, like the Lagos heat that refused to leave even at night. The ceiling fan spun lazily above them,doing little more than pushing warm air around.Esme sat at the edge of the bed, her fingers tangled in her hair,her shoulder tight with stress. “f**k,Elena” Her voice cracked, raw and tired. “It's been six months since I came to this town, no job,no money. I'm almost out of cash. If not for you, I don't know what I will have done. She exhaled shakily, staring at the cracked tiles beneath her feet. Elena didn't answer immediately. She leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching Esme with sharp, knowing eyes. Unlike Esme's restless energy,Elena was calm… too calm. The kind of calm that came from someone who had already accepted how unfair the world could be. “Hmmmmm,”Elena finally said, tilting her head. “And you're just telling me this like I don't already know?” Esme shot her a weak glare. “This isn't funny.” “I never said it was.” Silence stretched between them for a moment before Esme continued, her voice rising with frustration. “ The interview I went for the other day …..” she scoffed bitterly. “That jerk wants to sleep with me before giving me a job. Tell me….. how the hell does that even work, Lena? Is that how things are done here?” Elena’s jaw tightened, but she didn't look surprised. Esme stood up…. Pacing the small room. “ I don't get it…how do I keep up? I have bills to pay. My money is almost gone. I can't keep depending on you like this… you've done more than enough already.” She ran her hands over her face. “I've submitted my CV to so many companies. So many!And nothing,not even a call or a goddam email. Her voice dropped, bitter and exhausted “And now even an ordinary waitress job comes with conditions? ‘Sleep with me first’. Like I'm some kind of …….” she cut herself off, swallowing hard. “It's disgusting.” testa di cazzo(dickhead) Elena pushed herself off the wall and walked over slowly. “First of all,” she said, her tone steady but firm, “you need to breathe.” Esme let out a humorless laugh. “I've been breathing, Elena. It's clearly not helping." Elena ignored the sarcasm and grabbed her shoulders,forcing her to stand still. “I said ……breathe.” Something in her voice made Esme pause. Reluctantly, she inhaled. Then exhaled. Again. Elena nodded. “Good. Now listen to me.” Esme looked at her, eyes tired, vulnerable in a way she hated. “You are not sleeping with anyone to get a job,” Elena said bluntly. Esme let out a scoff. “Easy for you to say.” “No, not easy,”Elena snapped, her eyes flashing. “ Necessary.” That caught Esme off guard. “You think I don't know how this city works?” Elena continued. “You think I haven't seen it? Girls trading dignity for survival? Men taking advantage because they can? She shook her head. I know exactly how it works.And that's why I'm telling you.. you're not doing it.” Esme's lips trembled slightly. “Then what am I supposed to do?” Elena's expression softened, just a little. “We will figure something out.” Esme turned away, hugging herself. “I can't keep living like this,Elena. This isn't me. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “ I used to have everything.” There it was. The truth she rarely talks about. Elena signed and walked past her, grabbing two bottles from the small fridge. She tossed one to Esme. “Yeah,” she said casually, twisting hers open. “You used to have everything. Big house,money,people doing everything for you ....” Esme winced. “And now?” Elena continued. “Welcome to reality sweetie.” “ That's not helpful,” Esme muttered. “It's not supposed to be helpful. It's supposed to be real.” Esme sank back into the bed,staring at the bottle in her hands. “I didn't think it would be this hard.” Elena chuckled dryly. “ Of course you didn't. Princesses don't usually plan for survival.” Esme shot her glare,but there was no real anger behind it. “ Can you not call me that?” “ Why? It's accurate.” “I'm not a princess anymore.” Elena smirked. “Good. Because princesses don't survive out here.” The words hit harder than Esme expected. for a moment neither of them spoke. Then Elena sat beside her nudging her shoulders lightly. “Look she said her tone softer now. “You are struggling. That's fine. Everyone does at some point. But you are not helpless, Esme. You are just…… inexperienced.” Esme huffled. “That's a nice way of saying I don't know what I'm doing.” “exactly.” Esme rolled her eyes. Elena grinned."See? Progress already. You're admitting it.” Esme let out a small, reluctant laugh. “ And for and for the record,” Elena added, “you don't owe me anything. Stop saying that “but—” “I said stop.” Her tone left no room for argument. Esme signed. “I just hate feeling like a burden.” “ You are not a burden,” Elena said simply. “You are my friend. There's a difference.” Esme looked at her, something warm flickering in her chest. “Still,” Elena continued learning back on her hands, “we need a plan. Because as much as I love you, I'm not about to adopt you permanently.” “wow” “I'm serious.” Esme shook her head, a faint smile on her lips. “ So what's this ‘plan’? she asked. Elena's eyes sparkled with mischief. “We start small.” Esme frowned. smaller than the waitress?” “yes.” “That's depressing.” “ it's realistic” Esme groaned and flopped back on the bed. “ I hate reality.” Elena laughed. “Too bad. Realistic pays the bills.” Esme stared at the ceiling, her mind racing. “What if nothing works?" she asked quietly. Elena turned her head to look at her. “Then we try something else.” “and if that doesn't work?” “ We keep trying.” Esme frowned. “That sounds exhausting.” “It is.” Esme signed dramatically. “I miss my old life.” Elena smirked. “Yeah? And I'm sure your old life misses you too.” Esme threw a pillow at her. Elena caught it easily, laughing. “But seriously,” Elena added, her voice steady now, “you didn't run away just to give up, did you?” Esme's expression hardened slightly. “ No.” “Good. Because I don't make weak friends.” “Then prove it.” The challenge hung in the air. For the first time that evening, something shifted inside Esme. Not fear. Not frustration Something stronger. Determination. She took a deep breath and nodded slowly. “ Fine,"she said. “We do it your way.” Elena grinned. “Damn right we do.” Esem rolled her eyes but smiled faintly. “ Tomorrow,”Elena continued, standing up and stretching, “we go out again. Different places. Different approach.” Esme groaned. “More rejection.” “More opportunities,”Elena corrected. “same thing.” “Not even close.” Esme watched her, shaking her head. “How are you always so….okay with everything?” Elena shrubbed. “Because I don't expect life to be fair.” Esme was quiet for a moment. “Do you ever get scared? she's asked softly. Elena paused. Then she smiled… a rare honest one. “All the time.” Esme blinked. “You don't look like it.” “That's because I don't let it stop me.” Those words settled deep. Esme nodded slowly. “ Okay, she said, more to herself than anyone else. “Okay.” Elena clapped her hands once. Good.Now that we’ve solved your life crisis….” “We have not solved anything.” “---l'm hungry.” Esme stared at her in belief. “That's your takeaway from all this?” “Yes.” “You’re unbelievable.” “And you love me.” Esme signed, but a small smile crept onto her face. “Yeah,” she admitted. “I do.” Elena winked. “Good. Now come on. Let's go find food before I start considering crime.” Esme laughed…. a real laugh this time. And for the first time in weeks, the weight of the chair of her chest felt just a little lighter. Maybe she didn't have everything figured out . Maybe her life was a mess. But she wasn't alone. And somehow….. that's made all the difference.