Shattered

I sneaked inside the kitchen. There was some ketchup on one of the counters, staining it. I made a mental note to clean it later. I was too hungry to do it right away.

I opened the fridge and reached to grab my food. Same as usual: a PB&J sandwich with a few baby carrots and some water, except I was out of jelly, so now it was just PB.

I stopped as I smelled something. The whole fridge smelled like fresh leaves and garlic. I grabbed a box. Inside was pesto pasta. My mouth watered. It had been so long since I ate anything other than PB.

I couldn't resist it. My stomach growled. The name on the box said it belonged to the boss. I was probably an idiot for eating it, but I couldn't help myself. "Just a few bites and he will never know," I told myself. I took the first bite and the second… before I knew it, the box was empty.

"What are you doing?" I looked up and cleaned my mouth with my sleeve. Patrick, one of my coworkers, was staring at me. "I don't think that's yours."

I was doomed.

....................

Mr. Aleb watched me closely for a few seconds. It felt like hours. The more he looked at me, the more tears gathered in my eyes. This was good. I needed all my tears if I wanted to beg him to forgive me.

"You are fired."

His voice was very cold. I felt like the whole room was freezing. Or maybe it was just my body going cold.

"Over… some pasta?" My voice was shaking. I couldn't get fired.

"No." He rubbed his forehead with a hand and rested his head against the back of the chair. "For causing trouble every single day."

"Sir, please…" My tears fell involuntarily. "I…"

"Last week you called Mary a bitch. Didn't you?" His eyes fixed on mine.

"Yes, but she kept dropping food on the floor," I protested. "She was doing it on purpose. She knows I can't go home until I clean everything. I missed the last bus because of her a few times."

"I don't have the patience for your shit." He ended the conversation. "Leave before I ask the security to escort you out."

....................

I sat at the side of the bridge. Cars passed behind me. My feet were dangling over the edge. The river roared beneath me. I grabbed the drink and took another sip. My head felt heavy and warm. I paid my last fifty-two dollars to buy it. It was worth it. I could hardly feel anything now. I didn't want to feel.

I couldn't go home. My dad would kill me. Literally. I couldn't go to a hotel. I had no money. I didn't have anywhere to go.

I shivered. I couldn't sleep in a park again. The last time…

I didn't want to think about it.

I looked underneath the bridge.

The water was so blue and tempting. I was so tired. Maybe this was the perfect time. I was too numb to feel anything. A minute and all my pain would go away.

I put the drink aside. It was almost empty. I looked down again.

Just one push.

No one would miss me anyway.

I leaned forward.

A pair of strong hands grabbed me.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?"