DISCARDED
CHAPTER ONE
DISCARDED
When I finally stepped off the bus, my feet felt completely numb.
Not the kind of numbness that goes away with a warm bath or a good night's sleep. This was a deep ache in my bones from standing non-stop for twelve hours, pretending I wasn’t tired because customers didn’t like seeing waitresses who looked worn out.
The air at night had the scent of damp pavement and smoke. I could hear a food vendor across the street packing up for the evening, with metal clanging as weary people hurried past each other like shadows trying to get home before the rain began.
I gripped the thin envelope in my hand tightly.
Forty-three dollars.
That was my total earnings after everything was taken out.
Forty-three dollars for a long twelve hours of forcing a smile until my cheeks felt sore.
I chuckled softly to myself, even though there was nothing actually funny about it.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I knew who it was before I looked.
Monica.
My sister only called when she needed something.
I picked up the call anyway.
“Where are you?” she asked right away.
“No greeting?”
“You know Derek can’t stand waiting for dinner.”
I paused my walking for a moment.
“I just finished my job.”
“Well, hurry up.”
The call ended before I could reply.
I looked at the cracked screen for a second before putting the phone back into my pocket.
There were days when I questioned if Monica even thought about our sisterhood.
After our parents passed away, our relationship shifted completely. Perhaps sadness changes people. Maybe lack of money does too. Or maybe Monica had always acted this way, and I was too young to see it before life turned harsh.
No matter the reason, her apartment stopped feeling like a home quite some time ago.
Still... it was the only place I had.
The building looked worse than usual when I arrived. The hallway lights flickered dimly above me as I made my way up to the third floor. Each step made my legs hurt more.
I quietly unlocked the door.
The apartment was dark except for the light from the television in the living room.
Derek looked up from the couch.
As soon as I saw his face, a chill ran down my back.
Monica was not home.
“You’re late,” he said.
I avoided making eye contact with him as I took off my shoes by the door.
Work finished late.
He stared at me slowly, making me feel uneasy.
"You put in too many hours."
I managed a small smile. "Is Monica still at her friend's place?"
"Yes." He turned off the TV and got up. "She said she’d come back later."
I felt a tightness in my chest.
I disliked being by myself with him.
At first, I thought I was imagining his lingering looks. The unwanted touches whenever Monica wasn’t around. The remarks that sounded like jokes.
But girls like me quickly realize when there's trouble in the room.
"I'm tired," I said quickly. "I’ll head to my room."
As I tried to pass him, his hand suddenly grabbed my wrist.
Tightly.
My whole body went still.
"Derek..."
"You know," he whispered, moving closer, "you should smile more when you’re around me, like you do with customers."
My stomach churned.
"Let me go."
His hold grew stronger.
"You live here. Use my food. The least you could do is stop being so ungrateful."
Fear rose in my throat so quickly that I nearly choked on it.
I pulled my arm back quickly, but he pushed me against the wall before I could escape.
The hit took my breath away.
"Stop!" I shoved at his chest. "Let go of me!"
His hand moved to my hips.
Something inside me broke.
I lifted my knee as forcefully as I could.
Derek yelled loudly and took a step back.
I ran.
But he grabbed my arm just before I got to the hallway.
The apartment went crazy after that.
People were yelling.
Things were falling.
My bag hit the ground.
I don't even recall picking up the lamp, only hearing it break next to him.
Then all of a sudden—
The front door swung open.
Monica came in.
For one terrifying moment, relief washed over me so strongly that my knees almost buckled.
"Monica—"
Derek spoke before I could.
"She tried to make a pass at me."
Everything froze.
I looked at him in shock.
Monica glanced back and forth between us slowly.
"What?"
"She came on to me as soon as you left." His voice was chillingly calm now. "When I turned her down, she started acting insane."
My jaw dropped.
"What?!"
"That’s not true!"
Derek exaggerated while rubbing his arm. "Look at what she did to me."
Monica faced me.
And the expression in her eyes pained me more than anything Derek had ever done.
Not confusion.
Not surprise.
Disappointment.
As if she saw this coming from me.
"You’re incredible," she said softly.
I felt like my chest was collapsing.
"Monica, please hear me—"
"No." Her tone became sharp. "Do you understand how tough things are for us already? And now you want to ruin my marriage?"
I felt tears welling up in my eyes.
"He attacked me!"
"Why would he do that?"
Her question hit me harder than a slap.
Was it because I was poor?
Was it because I lived in their home?
Was it because girls like me were easy to target?
"I’m your sister," I said quietly.
Monica let out a bitter laugh.
"And I’m tired of taking care of you."
The apartment was silent.
I looked at her.
At the woman who used to hold my hand when we crossed the street as kids.
The woman who promised after our parents passed away that we would always be there for each other.
I barely recognized her anymore.
"Leave," she said coldly.
I blinked.
"What?"
"You heard me."
"Monica…"
"I said LEAVE!”
The upcoming half hour felt like a dream.
My clothes were packed into garbage bags.
My books were carelessly tossed into a box.
The neighbors acted like they weren’t watching while my life was left outside like rubbish.
Rain began to fall just before Monica shut the apartment door in my face.
Just like that.
Everything was lost.
Home was lost.
Family was lost.
Everything was lost.
I stood there motionless on the sidewalk as the rain soaked my clothes.
People walked past me as if I weren't there.
Maybe I wasn’t there.
I glanced at the trash bags beside me and chuckled quietly, but the laugh quickly turned into a sob.
I had no place to go.
No cash for a hotel.
No friends nearby to reach out to.
Nothing.
The rain intensified.
I hugged myself, trying to hold back tears in front of strangers.
Then, out of nowhere, headlights shone through the downpour.
A sleek black car came to a stop right in front of me.
I frowned.
The rear door opened slowly.
A sophisticated older woman emerged, holding a black umbrella.
Even in the rain, she had a luxurious appearance.
Elegant.
Strong.
Totally out of place in my life.
Her gaze settled on me with ease.
Then she smiled.
I have been searching for you.
