The Twisted fate of Leila

The night always smelled the same, cheap alcohol,sweat and regrets. I wiped down the counter with slow, tired movements, my fingers stiff from hours of work. The bar was too loud but i had learned how to exist inside the noise without really hearing it. Laughters, clinking glasses, slurred confessions… it all blended into one dull hum.“Leila! Another round here.”He called i didn’t look up immediately,i didn’t need to,i already knew the voice Mr Collins, a regular who drank like his life depended on it. “Coming” I said flatly.I grabbed the bottle and poured him the drink with practiced precision . Tomorrow is the due date for the loan. I really need to pay it up. Mr Nelson already threatens to send me to jail if i don't pay up his money by next week. Dad is running out of treatment and the doctors say he's not getting any better,oh lord please redeem me from this nightmare.”Tf Leila are you lost?I suddenly heard the voice of Mr Collins,I had spilled drink all over the table while lost in my thoughts. “Oh my goodness”I exclaimed,"I'm so sorry Mr Collins this is entirely my fault and I'm so sorry-”ofcourse who's fault is it?It's you Leila,i was cut off by him. ”if you're not ready to do this job then you quit,you quit Leila no one forced you to be here”he barked,”next time i won't sit here to banter words with you,i’ll simply go straight to your manager to make sure you lose this job”he muttered drunkenly “So sorry Mr Collins” I apologized one last time and left with the bottle. “Rough night huh?”jewel said,she leaned against the counter,”it's always a rough night” I replied. Jewel sighed “You've been off lately what's wrong Leila?You know you can talk to me about anything, we're literally sisters.” “It's nothing I'm just tired"I said “You're always tired,”she replied. I paused,that one hit harder than I wanted to admit. ”I'll be fine”,i muttered pushing the drinks across the counter. Jewel didn't move,”Leila how bad is it”she asked with a serious tone “I'll handle it”i said briefly That's not what i asked My hand tightened around the cloth I held. How bad was it? Bad enough that by tomorrow Mr Nelson will be walking in here to drag my ass to jail Bad enough that the loan officers were no more polite Bad enough that I have been skipping meals just to save up Bad enough that dad is not getting any better and there's nothing I can do about this and it genuinely saddened me. I couldn't say this out loud,they were all thoughts lingering in my mind. “Leila Leila Leila” i heard a loud voice scream at me “What?”Leila are you sure you're fine?Jewel continued “Jewel i said I'll handle it”I repeated loudly this time. Jewel studied me for a moment then sighed,”You don't always have to do everything alone,”She concluded and left. The bar finally closed at around midnight,i was done cleaning and it was finally time to head home. I stepped out into the cold air pulling my thin jacket around myself.The city light flickered in the distance but they brought no comfort,if anything they made everything feel colder. I exhaled slowly,my breath was visible in the night.”Another day done, another day survived”I murmured quietly as i was walking towards the bus stop with heavy steps dragging slightly against the pavement,every part of my body ached so bad,my feet hurt,my back hurt,every breath felt exhausting. I couldn't stop,i had to make it to the bus stop in time to catch the last bus,if not i'll have no other options than to sleep at the bar and that's not an option either. The streets were quieter but not totally empty. A few people lingered,late night workers,drunk strangers.i could count them.As i walked towards the bus stop the people I had in sight began to disappear,i knew i had to increase my pace. Then the feelings came again,it was subtle almost nothing but it was there like eyes on me watching,my chest tightened slightly as i glanced over my shoulder,it couldn't see anyone just an empty street.i breathed a little sigh of relief increasing my pace,my legs were shaking and i couldn't feel much of it so i knew i had to slow down or it might fail me at any moment. It wasn't the first time for months now i have been getting this strange unsettling feeling that i was being watched and followed. At first i brushed it off maybe, it's just my mental health playing a prank on me maybe, i’m just being paranoid but it keeps happening and it's getting harder to ignore. I shook my head trying to push the thought away,”You're just tired”i whispered to myself.I had finally reached the bus stop,it was almost empty just one flickering light overhead and a metal bench that looked like it had seen better days. I sat down slowly exhaling as I leaned forward resting my elbows on my knees,it was freezing cold and for a moment i let my self breath like really breath,i briefly closed and eyes and then i heard it, “You seem exhausted babygirl”. My heart skipped,i froze at the spot slowly looking up to see who had said that to me. He stood a few feet away tall,still,staring at me like he was staring into my soul. The streets were dark so i couldn't register the face. All i could see was a tall looking figure. “Do I know you?” I said with a trembling voice. He didn't answer immediately instead he took a step forward and chuckled “No you don't Leila but i do” he replied. My body filled with tension, different thoughts ran through my mind. Did he just say my name,is this how my life ends?Every instinct in my body screamed to be careful. “I've been watching you”,he said firmly. My stomach dropped,”That's not funny”I replied,”what do you want from me you psychopath”i screamed as i quickly stood up. “Do I look like i'm joking”?he said calmly as he slowly approached the bench. “STOPPPPP”,i screamed “don't come any closer,how do you know me?” I asked with a trembling voice “Fiery temper”He spoke once again with a chuckle.“Calm down baby girl, I just want us to sit and talk,”he continued. Tension filled the air i prayed silently that the bus would just arrive at once “I don't know you and i'm not going to sit and talk with a stranger”.I quickly chirped in. He was about to speak when i heard the blaring horn of the bus,it broke the tension. I didn't hesitate,i quickly turned towards the bus. Then i heard something no one other than Jewel and the people i owed knew about. “I could help you pay up your pending debts Leila”.His words pierced through me like a sword,”your debt,i know all about them”. My jaw clenched,i froze at the spot. I was about to turn when the bus driver raftly yelled out to me “Hey miss, are you coming or not?” I quickly got on the bus,but as I took my seat those words keeping replaying in my head,he's eyes still fixated on me “Who could this be?"I thought to myself and it terrified me more than the situation ever had.