se

er Th

to be going

when I wake up, my eyes flashing

when I arrived home last night an

id

ry, but now isn't the t

eshening up. I attack my hair with a comb and pull it into

time before I das

ared for me before he went on his shift la

late further. Deductions will be made from my daily pay for each hour I'm l

run down the alley leading t

bway today unless I'd rather fo

as I run down the steep path leadin

a cold bucket of water is d

shock, my eyes ins

older woman gasp. "I'm

eeth chatter as I nod at her. "It's alright." I can

dly back home

of my wet clothes. Perhaps I should have opted

after I ran through a shower and changed my clothes. There

around my body and only stop when t

quick work of disposing of the was

down the alley to the road, gla

y enough to escape my supervisor's notice. He

ckaging industry and from there I leave for my la

re la

"I'm sorry, sir," I say in a tiny voice,

approaches me and wrinkles his nose, taking a step back. "What

ched in stale fish wate

er his face. "Go. Go." He waves franti

mutter again, fe

sh odor. I've been receiving comments from people about the excessive s

hen it's finally th

ded my pay. I hoped he would at least be considerate of the reason

ther sigh,

to clean and freshen up before

's no way I will choke the high-profile customers that patronize th

skin still tingles from the embarrassm

groceries that I can buy with half of my

my attention to them. I watch with longing as they head back

have been where they are, studying w

ff my mind with a shrug. What's important now is

my wristwatch as I wal

trudge towards where my apartment i

ays an engaging ride down and upward, but now, my kn

with her up the steep road. I move closer and help h

she expresses with p

lp, ma'am," I say, and

uxurious sedan par

r. I adjust my sling bag on my sho

nds with the visitor, anoth

eal, Mr. Lar

look pleased as

e him. Recognition flashes in, a

y good memory, Rose. Soon," he sa

after he leaves, his ey

here?" I ask my dad, disturbed

to Mr. Black," he says

?" But Dad's expression remains seriou

row,"

im in disbe