Chapter 2
1121 Words
I woke up feeling shivery because of the cold. I opened my eyes slowly and noticed that the area around my house was bustling with activity. A few people who live near me were gazing in my direction. That’s when I remember what happened before!
I quickly got up, but my legs felt shaky. I had to steady myself to be able to tap on the door. It was a bit hard to stay upright.
“J-joseph! P-please…” my voice was hoarse because of my cries last night. I was about to knock again when I heard a voice behind me.
“What happened to you, Leah? You look torn up.”
I turned my head to look over my shoulder, and there was Mrs. Smith, who lives right next to our house. She's a really kind and friendly neighbor, which is why we get along well. Feeling a bit nervous, I took a deep breath and turned to her.
“J-joseph, I need to talk to him.”
"Joseph? Oh, he's not here right now. I actually saw him outside with another lady before. Do you know her? Is she one of your friends?"
“W-where did they go?” my voice trembled.
"I'm not sure, my dear. I didn't even get a chance to ask him about the woman who is with him.”
They decided to leave the place…. this means that Joseph looked and noticed me sleeping on the front porch. But…he didn't bother to look at me lying on the ground, even though I was waiting for him…
It felt as if a little piece inside me suddenly broke when I started to turn away from Mrs. Smith. Even though her voice was still there in the distance, something inside me changed. I understand that she's concerned, but if I'm being honest – I'm not sure anymore. It's like everything is coming undone, like a puzzle falling apart.
“I-i’m sorry, Mrs. Smith. I need to go.”
“Wait, where are you going, darling?”
I grabbed the clothes that he hadn't even bothered to put in a suitcase and then I answered her.
“S-somewhere far from here.”
Right when she was about to start asking me something, I quickly left that house where I remember a lot of traumatizing things. As I searched for a place to stay, my tears kept coming and I couldn't make them stop.
Which is impossible for me because I have no money with me.
I felt really down as I kept walking and walking until my legs were almost ready to give out. I went up to people and asked them where I could find a job, but many of them didn't want to talk to me at all just because of how I appear at this moment. It made things even tougher for me.
I know I look stressed and exhausted, but if I'm going to make it in this world and stay alive then I need to find a job. The fear of not knowing where to go or what to do is overwhelming. Without my parents around and having no friends, life has become an uncomfortable burden. Everywhere I turn it seems like there's no hope for me, the odds are stacked against me.
I collapsed onto the sidewalk, wrapping my arms around my knees and lowering down my head.
Despite all of the noise and commotion flickering around me, I was determined to come up with a solution to my problem. Yet it seemed as if there was no answer in sight and I felt myself begin to give into despair once more when, suddenly, I heard someone's voice pierce through the chaos of the city streets.
“Stay out of here!”
When I raised my gaze, I noticed an elderly gentleman. He was gripping a spatula and had on an apron. He seemed to be shouting at someone who appeared to be a worker in his…restaurant! Without hesitation, I got out of my seat and walked over to him.
“Hello, please, is there any free position in your restaurant?”
The man slowly look at me, “What are you?”
I held onto his hand, and it surprised him, but at that moment, I didn't really mind or worry about it. I felt like I had no other option but to do what I was doing!
"Please, I really need a job right now! I saw that you have a restaurant, and I'm hoping you could give me a chance to work there. Please…”
I fell down onto my knees and began to cry in front of him. I could sense that the people around us on the sidewalk were watching us.
“Damn it! Okay! Just don’t do that!”
The old man grab my elbow then forced me to stand up. He pulled me in the direction of the rear exit of the restaurant and then gently pushed me through the door.
“You’ll be a garbage girl. You can’t serve looking like that and you look like someone who can’t cook.”
“B-but, I can cook-”
“Shut up! This is a five star restaurant and we pride ourselves in only providing our customers with the highest quality of food. Do you think I would allow anything less? In other words, do I make myself clear?”
I nodded my head. The old man smiled and turned around. I looked up, my gaze fixed on the bustling kitchen. Everyone was running all over the place, tending to their duties.
“Throw this out!”
Suddenly, a garbage bag was thrown at me. Since I didn't catch it in time, the bag slipped and exploded on the floor.
“What the?!”
“Are you stupid?!”
“I thought you’re the garbage girl here?!”
“Do your job properly, you imbecile!”
I bit my lip to stop myself from crying as they all shouted at me while I picked up the trash. My whole day went like that, with trash being thrown back and forth.
While I was throwing the trash outside, my stomach rumbled, and my head became slightly dizzy. I groaned, as I hadn't eaten anything for the day.
“Garbage girl!”
I flinched when the head chef called me. I was about to run back to the restaurant when, suddenly, I bumped into something.
“F*ck!” a deep voice suddenly cursed.
“Honey, are you okay?”
“I-i’m so sorry-”
I stopped when our eyes locked. Suddenly, everything around us faded, and those captivating eyes were the only thing I could see.
- Writer
