Chapter 1 A Hard Life

Eira's POV

I forced a smile as I handed over the receipt, and bouquet of red roses to the short, pot-bellied man in front of me. He was a regular customer at the flower shop, and despite how he always tried to make my life miserable, I had always endured.

My boss wouldn't bat an eyelid before he kicked me out if I made him lose an important customer. Mr Jenkins was the name of this man.

He was always buying flowers addressed to different women, sometimes-men. As of now, he sat at a stool close to the receptionist table, telling me tales of his new girlfriend and how she loved red roses.

All of that wasn't my business, but what was giving me concern was the way he leaned too close that I clearly saw the full outline of his chubby face and his yellow coloured teeth.

Then he asked for my number, for the umpteenth time which I politely declined.

"You see Eira, you won't go far in life if you keep being this way. I'm just trying to help you. Believe me, I don't go about asking pretty, sexy women for their numbers." He began.

"But you're different. I don't get why a pretty woman like you with this face, and body would want to waste away in a flower shop. Don't you have ambitions?" Jenkins had a pitiful look in his eyes, but I knew better.

"Thank you for your concern Mr. Jenkins. I must say, I'm touched. But, I do have ambitions and I'm working towards it." I smiled, while I stabbed him several times in my mind.

"That's the spirit! It's good to know you have one, and I can help you actualize it. Just give me your number, and leave everything to me." His shoulders were raised, as he lifted his chin proudly.

"You have my number." I smiled slyly.

"No, there's something wrong with that number. It's always directed to your work. I mean your personal phone number." He said.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have another one." I faked a solemn look.

"Oh really? I can get one for you."

"Thanks for your concern, I don't need it." I smiled.

"But-"

"You need to leave the way Mr Jenkins, there are other customers to attend to. Once again, thanks for your patronage." I said, and watched him stomp away in anger while I attended to the others.

"That man has been on your tail, eh? The woes of being pretty." Dana, my co-worker and good friend remarked.

After I answered all the customers on my line, I faced her with a good glare. Dana was also recently employed in the flower shop like me. She had long red hair, and green eyes and was very curvy.

"Look who's talking" I raised a brow.

"Nah, don't give me that face. There's a difference between both of us. I've fucked him, and you haven't." She chuckled dryly.

My jaw dropped as I stared at her in uttermost shock. I didn't judge her, and never would. I knew there must be something that made her do it, like me; Dana had a hard life too.

But why did it have to be that scumbag of all people?

Soon we were done with the sales, and I faced her properly.

"Talk to me Dana, what happened?"

I knew how much Dana hated Jenkins, and for her to sleep with him; something had gone wrong.

"How do you always manage to see through me no matter how nonchalant I sound?" Her voice cracked.

"Come here." I pulled her into a hug.

"It's Rina, I had to pay for her dialysis." She sobbed, "Doctor says the surgery needs to be done fast as the dialysis might stop working for her."

I said nothing as I stroked her hair comfortingly.

It would be of no use telling her things would be okay when it clearly wouldn't. I had slowly started to give up on life, but I wouldn't infect that mentality on others.

"I pray...that things will get better." I murmured.

After a few more sales, Dana and I were done for the day. Dana decided we would eat lunch, which was constant Ramen. She paid for it, as I didn't even have plans for lunch today.

After lunch, I went with her to see Rina at the hospital before we parted ways. I walked back, as I didn't have spare change to take a cab.

My thoughts were filled with how to take on more jobs during the day. I even thought of working at night, but I had to study. The hospital would soon bug me as I haven't paid them for some weeks now.

"Urghh." I groaned frustratingly.

I was getting tired of life, but I couldn't afford to give up easily. If I could work hard enough to pay my debt to the hospital, and save to go to a teaching college, then everything would go well.

It was easier said than done, but I still decided to hold on to a little faith.

I sighed in relief when I got closer to the small house I lived in with my grandma before she passed away, leaving me in debts.

Then I noticed some men hovering around

the house from afar.

"Who were they? What do they want?" My mind raced.

I hid behind a house and looked closely, then I caught a familiar face; the hospital's head guard.

"Oh shit!" I cursed as I hid properly.

So they weren't joking when they said their next arrival wouldn't be simple. In the past when they came for their money, it had only been the head guard and one of their finance managers.

But now, things have changed. I had no spare money to give them, as I had given them all I had the last time they came. I haven't gotten a new job yet.

I was sure as hell cooked.