Evicted

I stood outside the apartment, watching as the last of my things were tossed onto the sidewalk. The sky above was cloudy and gray, mirroring the storm brewing inside me. Mr. Thompson, my landlord, didn’t even glance my way as he locked the door behind him.

“This is your final notice, Sophia. I gave you more time than I should’ve,” he said, his voice sharp and unforgiving.

I swallowed hard, trying to keep the tears at bay. “Please, Mr. Thompson. I just need a little more time. My mom’s surgery is next week, and—”

“I’ve heard it all before,” he interrupted, shaking his head. “You’re already two months behind. I can’t wait any longer.”

I wanted to scream, to beg, but I knew it wouldn’t matter. His mind was made up. I glanced down at the suitcase and the few bags scattered on the sidewalk—my whole life, reduced to a handful of belongings. The slam of the apartment door echoed in my chest, like the final nail in the coffin.

I was homeless.

For a moment, I stood there, frozen in place. I couldn’t fall apart. Not now. My mom needed me, and her surgery was in seven days. Seven days to come up with the money I didn’t have. I’d tried everything—extra shifts, selling what little I owned, borrowing from friends—but it was never enough.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket, staring at the screen. Who could I even call now? Everyone I knew was either in a worse situation than me or had already given me what they could. My chest tightened as I scrolled through the contacts, my thumb hovering over Lia’s name.

*Lia,* my best friend since forever. She worked at a club in the city, and while we didn’t talk as much as we used to, she was always there for me when things got tough. I hated the idea of dragging her into this mess, but what choice did I have?

I tapped her name and held my breath as the phone rang. One ring. Two rings. I almost hung up when her voice crackled through the line.

“Sophia? Hey, what’s up?” Lia’s voice was light, but I could hear the background noise of music and chatter.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. “Lia... I got kicked out. I—I don’t have anywhere to go.”

“What?” Her voice sharpened. “Where are you right now?”

“I’m standing outside my apartment. Or... what used to be my apartment.” I looked down at my bags, feeling a fresh wave of panic rise in my throat. “I don’t know what to do, Lia. I’m scared.”

“Okay, okay, calm down,” she said quickly. “Listen, it’s not much, but you can crash at the club with me. It’s not allowed, but I’ll figure something out. Just get here. Can you get here?”

I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “Yeah. I’ll be there.”

“Good. And don’t worry, we’ll figure this out. Just hurry, okay?”

I hung up, relief washing over me, but only for a second. As I grabbed my bags and started walking, the weight of everything pressed down harder. The club wasn’t a long walk, but every step felt like dragging a mountain behind me. My mom’s pale face flashed in my mind, and I quickened my pace.

The club stood at the edge of the city, neon lights flickering above the entrance. It wasn’t my kind of place—never had been—but tonight, it felt like my only lifeline. I slipped through the back alley, knocking softly on the employee entrance. After a moment, the door creaked open, and there stood Lia, her familiar smile a welcome sight.

“You look like hell,” she said, pulling me inside and closing the door quickly.

“Thanks,” I muttered, managing a weak smile. “I feel worse.”

She gave me a quick hug, then glanced around nervously. “Alright, you can hide out in my room for tonight. But we’ll have to be careful. The manager doesn’t allow outsiders in the dorms.”

“Thank you, Lia. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

She waved me off. “You’d do the same for me. Now, come on.”

I followed her down the dimly lit hallway, past the buzzing sounds of the club. The beat of the music thrummed in my chest, and I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. The reality of my situation hit me harder with each step. Lia’s room was small, barely enough space for her things, let alone mine, but I didn’t care. I was just grateful for a place to lay my head.

“You can stay here for the night,” she said, pushing open the door to her cramped little room. “But we need to figure something out fast. What are you going to do about your mom’s surgery?”

I sighed, sinking onto the bed. “I don’t know, Lia. I’ve tried everything. I’m out of options.”

Lia frowned, tapping her foot nervously. “There’s one thing you could do.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What?”

She hesitated for a second, then bit her lip. “You could dance tonight.”

“What?” My voice came out sharper than I intended. “Lia, I can’t...”

“Listen, hear me out,” she said quickly. “Amelia, one of our main dancers, is sick. We’ve got two VIPs coming in, and they pay *big* money. You’ve always been a great dancer. If you step in for her, you could make enough to cover the hospital bills.”

I stared at here, my mind spinning. Dance for VIPs? It was nothing I’d ever done before. But I needed the money—badly.

“I can’t,” I whispered, shaking my head. “I wouldn’t even know how to do it. And... what if I mess up?”

Lia knelt in front of me, grabbing my hands. “Sophia, this is your shot. You don’t have to do anything crazy. Just dance. Be yourself. They’ll eat it up, trust me.”

My heart raced. Could I really do this? The image of my mom, pale and weak in her hospital bed, flashed through my mind again. Seven days. That’s all I had.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “Okay,” I whispered. “I’ll do it.”