before the alarm on

nd stared at the water stain on the ceiling. For a split second I forgot where I was. I expected to see the b

The lumpy mattress dug into my back. The me

vant anymore. I

The room tilted sideways for a moment before righting itse

d myself. You are weak be

my wallet. I counted the bills aga

at eleven in the morning. That gave m

b. And I need

ection. My skin was pale. There were dark circles under my eyes. My hair was a tangled mess of

cover the exhaustion. This was

of clean jeans. I laced up my sneakers

er. I would not be coming back h

ty was

in the distance. People rushed past me on the sidewalk with their heads

n street and scanned

Wan

Hi

e plenty of jobs. I just n

shop first. The smell of roasted b

A manager with a clipboa

ID?" he asked before I could even spe

"I left them at home. Can

without looking up. "No

My face burn

ng store next. T

store. They asked

hop. The owner ask

hot. I had walked ten blocks.

nd was stinging against my sock. But the physical pai

wn country. I had no papers. I

olled over me so strong that I had to put my head b

tress. It had

shop and a boarded up warehouse. The sign above the

written sign tap

er Neede

a

was like

weakly. The air inside was thick with t

ained apron stood behind the grill. But my eyes were dra

high bun. Her skin was a rich deep brown and she wore a nose ring

s were sharp. They were too intellige

y lull," the man at the grill

tried to make my voice sound strong.

k in my clean clothes and

commercial kitche

. "I work har

ease traps. Scraped plates. Ten

e it," I sa

out to say no. I cou

hair said. Her voice was smooth like velvet. S

but she was definitely inspecting me. Her dark eyes lingered on

ked at Sal. "And she looks hungry. You know I h

oom. "Fine. Zoe says you are in then you are in

the girl.

t. wait until you smell the gr

," I

owered her voice so Sal couldn't hear. "

ze. "

ing for a cash job unless they are running from something. I

er. The touch was wa

ere," she pointed. "Ho

y and hot. The steam from the dishwasher machine made the air h

on around my waist.

dried out my hands instantly. But I d

y back ached. My feet were numb. Th

blur of motion. She carried three plates at a time.

the kitchen every twent

wbie?" she asked. She hand

id. I wiped sweat

ordered. "Y

ater. It hit my empty

ions from the grill wafted into the

mach r

rom the sink before I dry heaved. There was nothing in

y side in a second. Her hand r

caught me. She was surprisingly strong f

ped. "I am sorry. P

owel and pressed it to my neck. "Nobo

my pale face and then down at my flat stomach. A strange lo

t time you ate?"

ay," I w

the grill. I heard her yelling at Sal. A minute later she cam

commanded

read was warm and bu

as not used to kindness. In the pack house if y

n an overturned milk crate next to me.

Traveler's Motel

place is a roach motel.

long moment. She seemed

ce," she said. "It is not the Ritz

I couldn't. You do

nicured fingernail at me. "You are a hard w

and offered

she added with a grin. "It sme

to the lonely motel room and stare at the wall. Or I coul

k her

said. "Tha

friends," sh

ie

I had never had a real friend. I h

o clock Zoe and I walked o

king her arm through mi

a strange flutter in my stomach agai

hand over

d a friend. I was

to be more than just a friend. She was go

It was not just a baby. It wa