Chapter 1 Fired

"You're fired!"

"No, no, what do you mean, Janice?!"

"Are you deaf, Anya?!"

"I said that you're fired!" Janice, the owner of the restaurant where she worked repeated once again loud and clear.

"What?! You can't do this to me!"

"Get out of here!" The reddish-haired woman pushed Anya so roughly that she fell into the puddle in front of the restaurant.

"It's not my fault! But those customers tried to harass me, all I did was defend myself!"

"And because of that you threw the damn spicy food on their faces?!"

Anya nodded, "they deserved it!"

"You've cost me one hundred and twenty-two dollars, Anya!"

"Do you think you're worth more than the food you delivered, bitch?!" Janice pulled the collar of Anya's blouse roughly. Her eyes bulged as if they were about to pop out of their sockets.

"Let go of me, Janice!" Anya got up with all her might, her small body not enough to resist the forty-year-old woman's strength. But it seemed like the rage that overcame her made Anya's strength many times stronger.

"I'm out of this stupid job!" Anya took off the apron around her waist and threw it at Janice's face.

"You bitch!" Janice yelled harshly.

"Just get out if you want! I'm happy to fire you! Who do you think you are?"

"There are hundreds, thousands of other girls willing to work at my restaurant!"

"Let's see in a few days, you'll come and beg me for a job again!"

Janice couldn't stop yelling and cursing at her, but Anya didn't care.

Anya, who had walked a few meters away, turned around and stared at the cruel, miserly and annoying boss.

"Fuck you, Janice!" Anya pointed her middle finger at Janice.

"Bitch!"

Anya no longer cared about Janice's yelling and swearing. She quickened her pace and walked along the sidewalk. The streets were slippery and wet as it had been raining since the afternoon. That's why there were so many customers ordering delivery today. And Anya really hated having to do delivery. Because the stingy Janice never gave her extra pay for this job.

Moreover, stingy Janice also didn't want to add more employees to help Anya handle the fast food restaurant that was always flooded with customers.

***

Anya had reached the intersection near the old flat she had been renting for the past few months. From a distance she could see her pitiful abode. It was probably going to be torn down soon, and replaced with skyscrapers like most of the buildings in this big city.

The cell phone in her jacket pocket rang. She immediately took the cell phone that she had wrapped in plastic because it was raining heavily today and she had to go through the rain to deliver food to that jerk customer.

Her mind, which had been drifting in an uncertain direction, immediately panicked when she saw the message that was sent by the owner of the flat she rented. Rosemitte Wilson, a nice old lady, but lately she had become a little fierce because she was often late in paying the rent.

She was quite understanding of Rose's attitude. She needed money to survive. Besides, Rose had been kind enough to give her a break by allowing her to pay late as long as it wasn't more than two weeks.

Tomorrow was the deadline, if she couldn't pay tomorrow then it was certain that Rose would ask her to leave.

When she arrived at the flat, Rose was already standing at the door. The old woman looked at her with a smile, "how are you, Anya? Why do you look sluggish?" Rose asked.

"Mrs. Wilson," just as Anya was about to answer Rose said something she didn't want to hear.

"I know you don't have the money to pay the rent, that's why I'm here to tell you that I've found a new tenant. I'm sorry, you have to leave here by tomorrow morning at the latest," Rose said as she looked at Anya's eyes with pity.

"What a perfect day!" thought Anya.

She knew this would happen, it was real and she couldn't avoid it. It was impossible to live on the mercy of others.

"I'm sorry, Anya, but I need money to buy insulin," Rose added, touching her shoulder. A few minutes passed with Anya devastated by reality. The girl didn't even realize that Rose had walked away earlier, leaving her alone in front of the flat she hadn't even unlocked the door to.

***

"You'll be a bum, Anya, just like Janice's curse!" she cursed to herself.

She unlocked the door and went inside, her footsteps sluggish and limp. The hunger pangs that she had been feeling since the afternoon suddenly disappeared when she realized that there was not a single penny left in her purse.

Anya flung herself onto the peeling leather sofa. She looked up at the ceiling of her flat, which was brownish from the rainwater seepage. The stale odor had been her friend for the past few months. Although this place could be said to be uncomfortable, Anya was quite happy living here. Because Rose was nice and often gave her food.

Just as she was about to close her eyes, her cell phone suddenly rang.

Liz.

Her cousin called. She quickly picked up the phone.

"Hello, Liz, what are you calling me about at this time of night? Can't it be tomorrow, because I don't want to be disturbed,"

"I'm going to bother you, you ignorant granddaughter!! how many months have you not sent me money? Are you going to let me starve to death?! Because of you, I have to sell all my jewelry to survive? Has the big city made you forget about me, the grandmother who has raised you with great difficulty?" Beatrice immediately started ranting at Anya.

"Grandma?" Anya was surprised to find out who was calling her.

"Yes, good, you remember who I am. I thought you had forgotten about your grandmother, to the point that you no longer send me money. What did you spend your paycheck on? Don't tell me you used it to have fun, while I'm here every day eating wheat bread!"

"Nana, every month I always leave money with Aunt Magdalena, does she not give it to you?!" asked Anya.

"Don't fucking lie, Anya. Stop pretending, I know you want to have fun alone. Or do you really want me to die quickly?!"

"Don't say that, Gran,"

"Grandma!

Beep.

Before Anya could continue, her grandmother had already cut off the call unilaterally.

She then turned her face towards the window of the flat, which was open due to the wind.

She groaned softly, her brain now spinning to imagine herself who from tomorrow no longer had a place to live, a job and money.

"Dear God, grant me a miracle!" She shouted as she flung herself onto the bed.