Run

I looked at my appearance in the mirror I am wearing faded blue jeans with a light pink shirt and a denim jacket above it; I felt my lips pressing into a white slash 

I don’t have many good-looking clothes to wear, they never buy new clothes for me, I always given used old clothes of Deliah to wear, so I don’t have any clothes which I can be called mine everything I have is used ones of Deliah

I leave my long black hair open; they are naturally curly,

I made my way out from the motel and pulled out my phone, to search the directions of the cafe where I have hope to have a job

Finally, after seeing the directions of that place on Google Maps, I made my way towards the subway station; I have to find a job as soon as possible.

After twenty minutes, the subway train stops and I made my way towards the cafe

I hold the knob of the glass door of the cafe and entered, delicious aroma of cookies with coffee touch my nostrils, making my stomach growled in hunger, yes I ate nothing except a packet of chips with a cold drink at Los Angeles airport before coming here in New York

I closed my eyes and calm my nerves, and looked around, the walls of the cafe are graced with beautiful floral designs with pastel colors, relaxing music in the wall's background of the cafe, wooden furniture, and sofa sitting or comfortable chairs will prompt customers to stay for longer durations

I felt my chest getting hitched by seeing such a positive atmosphere. I never feel positivity since childhood

I smiled with such a relaxing environment and looked around to find a manager, to talk about my job

Finally, I found a guy looking the same age as mine with blonde hair. He is wearing simple denim jeans with a yellow shirt and apron while bringing orders from customers.

I quickly approach him

He looked at me and smiled “Hi, how can I help you” he asked politely

“Hello, I am Emberly Swan. I am here for a waitress job as I read there in the article,” I told him while scraping a hand through my hair

“Oh, yes we need one, please give me five minutes, let me bring orders of that customers, they are waiting for so long,” he said smiling sheepishly towards me and I nodded while bouncing on my toes

“Can I help you,” I asked him, smiling politely at him

He shook his head smiling “No need, just sit over there, give me five minutes; I will take you to our owner. By the way, my name is Eric,” he said, and I nodded while blowing out a long breath and smiling

“Wait,” he exclaimed while bringing a tray. I saw a plate full of cookies with a cup of latte coffee on it. He handed me the tray.

“Enjoy this, I will be back in five minutes,” he smiled, and I shook my head while fidgeting my fingers

“No need of this, I am fine” I insist him, but he is not listening to my excuses

“Please, I will feel so happy if you will accept this,” he insisted and I give up and nodded, honestly said, I am feeling so thankful to him, to think this much for me and I am hungry also

I come with a tray and sat on the corner table. These cookies are so mouth-watering. Finally, after some moments, he arrived.

He looked at me smiling, something is there in his eyes for me which I found so different, like not genuine but not bad either

“Come, let’s go,” he asked me and I nodded while standing up

We come towards a kitchen, there I found a lady in her early sixties,

Eric comes with me “Mrs. Glide, here this is Emberly Swan, she comes here for waitress job,” he informed her and she turned around and while her eyebrows drawing together

“Hello dear,” she greeted while

putting off her apron and coming towards me

I grinned and looked at her “Hello mam,” I greeted her back

“Please, don’t call mam, call me Bernice,” she insisted, and I nodded enthusiastically

“So, you come here for waitress job,” she asked me and I nodded

“Did you work before?” she asked, and I shook my head

“Because of some personal reasons, I have to leave my birthplace, Los Angeles, and have to come here to New York,” I told her

“Oh,” she said and after some moments, she spoke again “fine, you can join from tomorrow, honey,” she informed me and a wide smile appeared on my face hearing her answer, finally; I can be able to manage my expenses.

“Thank you very much, ma'am,” I exclaimed while quirking an eyebrow and smiling

“how many times I will tell you, don’t call me mam, honey, it’s Bernice for you,” she said, smiling kindly while placing her hand over my shoulder

I nodded, smiling, delightful, even I know I will cry if I stand here for some more time, in such a difficult situation this job means a lot to me

After discussing my duties here, I am going towards the exit, as from tomorrow I will join this cafe as my new working place. Before I can exit, a voice stops me.

“Emberly,” Eric called me while running in my direction

I turned around to look at him

“Yes,” I said to him, wondering

“I want to ask, ask,” he trailed while scratching his neck awkwardly

“Umm will you, I......I mean would you like to have a coffee with me” finally he managed to ask me

I looked at him, smiling “sure,” why

not,” I replied to him while lifting my head to look straight forward 

“Actually, there is not a lot of work here today and my shift is also almost over, so I can drop you also at your home,” he said to me, smiling

My face fell when I heard the name ‘home’ how unfamiliar this name is to me. I never know what is a real home for me.

He understands my uneasiness and asked me “what happened”

I looked at him smiling weakly, “I don’t have a home, I live in a motel as yesterday I come here from Los Angeles,” I told him I felt a tightness in the chest that is not loosing

“Oh,” was all he said to me

“If you don’t mind, I can arrange a place for you to live,” he insisted

“No thanks, but I will manage by myself,” I politely denied his request. I don’t need and want to take any favor from him, even not from anyone.

“I will see you around,” I said to him and makes out of the cafe

As I am walking towards the road, my mind is quizzing around past incidents and upcoming opportunities in my life, finally I am away from that hellhole, but I need to focus on my waitress job so that, I can earn money to afford a rented apartment

As I am walking, I don’t know, my leg hit with something hard and I stumbled and falls hard on the road

“Ahh,” I cried out in pain and pouted while looking up

Oh my god

Its newly launched Mercedes-Benz 

but, the hell, I am hurt because of it

First, that horrible family who tortured me since my childhood, then my unfortunate life now this car, everyone just hurt me,

I stand up while clenching my teeth

looked at that expensive car.

“You stupid, lunatic, idiot silly car, how dare you to come in my way and hurt me,” I hissed at the car and kicked its front from my leg

I quickly put my hand over my legs; I felt unbearable pain there because of kicking such a hard surface of the car.

“You won’t understand, right,” I felt

my muscles becoming tensed

and looked around and finally, I found a public dustbin

I quickly go there, took that Dustbin and walk towards that car, and pulled whole garbage over the front of that car. I smiled, satisfied after getting off my anger on that car.

“What the hell,” I heard a deep husky mesmerizing voice behind me, I felt my adrenaline shooting through inside of me with my racing heartbeat

My eyes widened, shit I think this is the voice of the owner of this car.

I swallowed feeling the sensation of not being able to get enough oxygen

I gulped down closing my eyes and started counting.

Emberly run, okay we will count until three, after three; I will run as fast as I could, as the owner of this car is behind me.

One, two... I felt footsteps coming in my direction, I but I slowly went forward, now ‘three’ my mind screamed and I ran as fast as I could without looking back, I ran as fast as my legs carried me, I don’t know where I will end up but I ran for my life.