Chapter 1 {Amani}
Hurry up. That’s all that was on my mind as I rushed down the sidewalk, occasionally bumping shoulders with passersby who threw me annoyed looks.
“Sorry,sorry,” I muttered, barely slowing down.
By the time I reached the café, I was drenched in sweat and exhausted. For a split second, I considered turning around and going back home or maybe finding an apartment closer to work.
My bank account quickly slapped that idea out of my head.
I was already behind on rent, barely scraping by, and New York apartments were anything but cheap.
If only I lived in some alternate universe where housing and food didn’t cost an arm and a leg.
The smell of burnt coffee snapped me out of that fantasy. That was the sad smell of reality I had slowly grown accustomed to.
I tied my apron quickly and stepped inside.
That’s when I noticed how packed the café actually was.
My heart dropped.
“Today’s gonna be a long one,” I muttered under my breath as I grabbed my notepad and headed toward a table.
“Table three!” my manager barked from behind the counter.
“I’m already on it, Joe,” I shot back without turning around.
His constant nagging had always put me in a bad mood, but today? Today was worse. I was late, stressed, and running on leftovers that were probably way past their due date.
Still, I forced a smile when I reached the customers.
Because they didn’t deserve my attitude.
“Smile. Serve. Repeat,” I whispered to myself.
It was the only way to survive.
And honestly? I was getting tired of surviving.
Life had never been easy, especially not with parents who barely showed up for me. I learned early on that if I wanted something, I had to get it myself. No help. No handouts. Just me and the hope of better days.
By the time my shift ended, my feet were screaming, and I felt sick from the smell of stale coffee and creamer clinging to my clothes.
I stepped outside, taking a deep breath of fresh air, hoping that maybe just for a second everything would disappear.
It didn’t.
My phone buzzed in my hand.
I checked the notification.
And my heart dropped to my stomach.
LANDLORD
RENT DUE IN FIVE DAYS
ELECTRICITY BILL OVERDUE
WATER BILL OVERDUE
I exhaled sharply and shoved my phone into my pocket like ignoring it would somehow make it go away.
“Hey.”
The familiar voice instantly eased some of the tension in my chest.
I turned, my shoulders relaxing slightly when I saw him.
“Charlie.”
He walked over with his usual easy smile and pulled me into a hug.
“You look like you got run over by a truck.”
A dry laugh escaped me. “I wish. But is it really that obvious?”
“Very.” He pulled back, studying my face like he was trying to read everything I wasn’t saying.
“You good?”
I hesitated.
For a moment, I almost told him everything. The rent. The bills. The constant pressure. The feeling of carrying the world on my shoulders.But then I swallowed it all down.
“I’m fine.”
Because that was easier. It didn't come with pity and it didn’t mean admitting I was struggling.
Charlie didn’t look convinced, but thankfully, he didn’t push.
“Heading home?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I replied, avoiding his gaze. I knew if I looked at him too long, he’d see right through me.
“Alright. Text me when you get there.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not a child, Charlie.”
“Sure you aren’t,” he said, clearly amused.
“Night, Mani.”
He pressed a quick kiss to my cheek before walking off.
“Goodnight, Charlie,” I called after him softly.
