tretched o

rs changed texture-smooth high-end pavement gave way to uneven sidewalks with cracks that split like scars. Billboards of luxury watches and

and polished limousines, but the pungent mix of frying oil, trash, engine smoke, and desperation. People passed him in hurried clusters-some shouting into

wild animal. He slipped his hand into the inner pocket of his jacket, where a handful of crumpled bil

No logos. No digital displays. Just numbers painted onto chipped glass. Kai

The bus smelled like unwashed bodies and diesel fumes. A baby cried somewhere near the front, and two teenagers argue

sk where it

ain when the driver

re lower here-older, packed tightly together like secrets. Clotheslines stretched across alleyways like spiderwebs. Stray cats darte

as l

felt alive. Radios blasted mismatched tunes from open windows. Children yelled, Vendors called out, waving g

tomach growled. He passed a food cart and considered buying something, but a glance at the pri

The sign above the rusted door read "EverRest." A joke, maybe. The E

t. The door

er the weight of a paperweight. A fan spun lazily above, stirring warm air that smelled like damp socks and disinfe

g?" the

. "Just a nig

as

ng the last notes

m and slid over a key. "Room 209. Shared

ook t

tress caved in like a forgotten grave. A small window overlooked a fire escape filled wi

the door

d for a

he'd ever known. But because he was too tired. His entire body ached. He lay down fully dressed

ning, he wok

tch, followed by a man's gravelly voice yelling back. The smell of frying oil wafted

k down the hall, water sputtering out

re stretched over metal frames. Vendors arranged fruit into neat pyramids while others grilled dumplings or

stand. People bartered, argued, paid in coins and favors. He watched a woman hand over a bag of rice

, holding a dirty flyer. "

inked.

e paper into his

six hours, cash payment. Locati

re. What else

ry store. No breaks. No water. Just heavy lifting and sharp instructions b

buy a small bowl of noodles from a cart outside and a bottle o

eaten any fro

it, he

as sur

tiredness by night, but all day. Not di

constant weight of fighting to get even a little

boy cleaned car windows for change. An old man played a saxophone on the corner, the case at hi

shake with snores and coughs. In the bunk above him, someone whispered a p

e had time

gui

ing noodles who handed him e

t dead. It just didn

ver himself, closed his eyes

yone in p

t didn't sleep, and