CHAPTER1
955 Words
Emma's POV
The ringing alarm of my phone echoed through my dream, I slapped my table hard searching blindly for it.
It Stopped ringing all of a Sudden.
I buried my face deeper into my Pillow then another Sound Shattered the Peace.
Buzz… Buzz… Buzz.
My eyes Snapped open.
Sunlight Poured through the thin Curtains of my bedroom.
My Stomach dropped.
"No."
I grabbed my Phone and the Screen lit up 9:17 AM.
My heart nearly Stopped.
"NO!"
I launched myself out of bed So fast that my blanket tangled around my legs. A Second later I Crashed face-first onto the floor.
Pain exploded through my Shoulder.
"Ow!"
I lay there for a moment Staring at the Ceiling.
This was already Shaping up to be a terrible day.
A truly Spectacularly terrible day.
The kind of day that made you wonder if the universe had a Personal grudge against you.
My Phone buzzed again.
I groaned and reached for it.
I Saw five missed Calls and three texts.
All from my boss.
I Swiped open the newest message.
Boss: Emma, where are you? The tour Starts in forty-five minutes.
My blood turned to ice.
Forty-five minutes?
The bus Station was thirty minutes away.
And I wasn't even dressed.
"Fantastic."
I Pushed myself up and Sprinted toward the bathroom.
My reflection greeted me in the mirror.
Messy brown hair, dark Circles under my eyes and a Pale Skin.
Exhaustion Practically dripping from every Pore.
I looked like Someone who had lost a fight with life.
Which honestly wasn't entirely inaccurate.
I worked two jobs.
A tour guide during the day and a waitress Several nights a week.
Every dollar I earned disappeared almost immediately to rent, utilities, groceries.
And most importantly… Sophie's College tuition.
My little Sister deserved better than the life we'd grown up with.
If I had to work myself into an early grave to make Sure She graduated debt-free, then So be it.
The Phone rang again.
This time it wasn't my boss, it was my landlord.
I Closed my eyes and answered.
"Hello?"
"Miss Brooks."
The moment I heard Mr. Harrison's voice, my Stomach tightened.
"Good morning."
"It isn't a good morning." He thundered.
"You are two weeks late on your rent."
I rubbed my forehead.
"I know."
"I need Payment by tomorrow."
My Chest tightened.
"Mr. Harrison, I just need a little more time."
"You Said that last week."
I opened my mouth but nothing Came out.
"I Can't keep waiting."
Panic began Creeping into my voice.
"Please Sir."
A long Silence followed then he Sighed.
"You have until tomorrow evening."
The Call ended.
I Stood frozen…
Tomorrow evening?
I Stared at the Cracked bathroom mirror.
For a moment, I felt the weight of everything Pressing down on my Shoulders.
Bills, rent, work, responsibility and fear..
The Constant fear that no matter how hard I worked, it would never be enough.
My eyes burned.
But Crying wouldn't Solve anything.
It never did.
So I Swallowed the lump in my throat and forced myself to keep moving.
Because that's what I always did.
Keep moving.
Even if I wanted to Collapse. Even if I was exhausted. Even if life kept knocking me down.
I kept going…. For Sophie.
By the time I Stumbled into the apartment that evening, my feet felt like they were made of Concrete.
The day had been a disaster.
Three tourists Complained. One Child threw up on the bus.
My boss lectured me for being late.
And to top it all off, I had received another rejection email.
“Dear Applicant, thank you for your interest…”
I hadn't even finished reading it… I already knew the rest.
“We regret to inform you…”
Every Company Seemed to regret informing me of Something.
I tossed my bag onto the Couch.
The Smell of Spaghetti drifted from the kitchen.
A Smile immediately touched my lips.
"Sophie?"
"In here."
I followed her voice.
My twenty-year-old Sister Stood by the Stove humming to herself.
A textbook Sat open on the Counter.
Only Sophie Could Cook and Study at the Same time.
She turned and Smiled.
"Rough day?"
I laughed.
"Do I look that bad?"
She winced.
"You want the honest answer?"
"Maybe not."
That earned a giggle..
For a moment Some of the heaviness in my Chest eased.
Sophie always had that effect on me.
She made things feel lighter even when they weren't.
She handed me a Plate.
"You'll figure it out."
I Stared at her.
"Figure what out?"
"Everything."
I laughed again.
"You have way too much faith in me."
She Shrugged.
"Someone has to."
The words hit harder because lately… I was running out of faith in myself.
An hour later I headed toward the grocery Store.
The Cool evening air brushed against my Skin.
Cars filled the Streets.
People hurried home from work. Everyone Seemed to have Somewhere to be.
Meanwhile I was just trying to Survive one day at a time.
Then a loud Screech Shattered the air…
People Screamed.
I whipped around.
A black luxury SUV had Slammed into a Streetlight.
The impact echoed through the intersection.
For a Second everything froze.
Then Chaos erupted…
My Pulse Skyrocketed.
Without thinking I ran toward the wreckage.
Someone needed help.
And as I reached the damaged vehicle I noticed movement inside..
An elderly woman Sat in the back seat.
Blood trickled down her forehead.
Her frightened eyes met mine through the Shattered window.
And Suddenly nothing else mattered..
Not the rent. Not the bills. Not the rejection emails.
Not even my Problems…. Just helping her.
I rushed forward as another Crash echoed Somewhere behind me.
The Crowd gasped and the damaged SUV Suddenly began to roll.
- Writer
