CHAPTER3
879 Words
Bills That Never End
"Last chance."
The words look like they don't signify anything to me.
Like they haven't been there in a long time.
Like they haven't been piling up on this exact counter.
I press the paper flat with my palm to get rid of a crease that won't stay down. "Amara?"
Zara's voice is gently behind me.
I don't turn immediately away. "Yeah?" "Are we okay?"
The question is more essential than the writing.
I swallow.Yes, we are.
A lie.
It's too simple.
Too much practice.
She approaches nearer.
I can see that she is looking at me. "You said that yesterday."
I let out a small breath.
"And I'm saying it again today."
Stop talking.
Then, "You didn't smile when you said it this time."
That makes me want to turn around.
She is standing near the door with a tiny notebook against her chest. It appears like she forgot to brush her hair this morning.
Or maybe I just forgot to inform her.
I tell myself to grin. "Come here."
She takes her time walking over.
Take care.
It looks like she's going to break something.
I bend down in front of her and say again, "We're fine," but this time more softly. "I just have a lot going on in my head."
"Because of the letters?"
My chest goes tight. "What letters?" "The ones you keep secret."
I feel chilled.
She keeps staring at me. "I saw one yesterday," she says. "You put it under the drawer."
Of course she did.
She knows everything.
I let out a soft sigh and said, "These are just bills."
"Do bills make you feel bad?"
"No," I swiftly shake my head. "They just need some time."
"Why do they keep coming?"
I don't know what the answer is.
Instead, I touch her and place a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"I say, "They'll stop shortly."
Another lie.
She slowly nods, but I can sense she doesn't trust me. "Do you need help?" she asks.
The question stings more than it should.
This time, I smile without even trying.
"You already do."
That makes her smile a little bit.
She goes back to her corner and gets out her notebook.
I glance at her for a second.
After that, go back to the front desk.
The paper is still there.
Waiting.
I pick it up again.
This is your last chance.
The same terms.
One more day.
I open the cash drawer and take out the money.
Nothing.
Not even cash.
Only dust.
I close it slowly.
adjacent, I grab the small stack of letters that are adjacent to it.
More letters.
More warnings.
I swiftly go through them.
Same noise.
The same end.
Now pay up.
Or lose everything.
I hold on tighter.
I tell myself, "This isn't real."
But it is.
Every second.
Someone is softly knocking on the door.
I stop.
Not too loud.
Not a big deal.
There.
I check the time.
We are still open.
I say to myself, "It's okay."
Most likely a client.
I walk over and open the door.
No one.
I grimace and say, "Hi?"
Nothing.
Just the vacant street.
I step outside a little and gaze to the left.
Then to the right.
Not yet.
I get an odd feeling in my back.
I go back inside.
Close the door.
Put it away.
But I don't know why.
My heart is racing a little quicker now.
I stop and turn around.
There is something on the counter.
I know it wasn't there before.
A small box.
Easy.
Brown.
No name.
No name.
My gut tightens. "No," I murmur in a whisper.
I slowly walk toward it.
Every step was harder than the last.
No one came in that I heard.
There was no one there.
But it's here.
Waiting.
I reached out.
Hold on.
After that, open it.
A phone is inside.
Color: Black.
Not known.
My breath pauses. "No..."
The display comes on.
A notice appears right away.
ANSWER IT.
My heart rate gets up. "I'm not—"
The phone is ringing.
A lot of noise.
Very sharp.
Ending the quiet.
Zara looks up from across the room.
"What is that?" "Nothing," I responded hastily.
But the ringing won't stop.
It grows louder.
More significant.
It appears to know that I'm not paying attention to it.
My hand won't stop moving.
I take it.
The phone stops making noise.
Stop talking.
Then a voice.
Not a lot.
Relax.
"Amara, you're running out of time."
I can't get enough air.
I know that voice.
I know what you're talking about.
Not in person.
Not very obviously.
But that's plenty. "Who is this?" I ask.
A break.
Then, "You already have what I own."
I don't know what you're talking about. My chest feels constricted.
Another break.
Then a gentle laugh. "You will."
The queue is dead.
I look at my phone.
My heart is beating fast.
I slowly lower it.
And that's when I see it.
There is a new message on the screen.
One I hadn't seen before.
There was nothing there.
I know it wasn't.
But now it is.
One line.
It's cold.
Got it.
You can't ignore it.
We're already here.
- Writer
