THINGS FALL APART

If I could turn back time – I'd go back to those times I constantly wished I was an adult.

Because this... this wasn't the adult life I signed my lazy self -up for.

At twenty three, I didn't have anything to be proud of, well except for the beautiful certificate that is hung in my mother's room till date.

Would you believe me if I said I was a first class medical doctor working as a receptionist in some down run hotel? No? okay.

Well, at least I was.

I continued to pack up my stuff into a small box, it had been barely thirty minutes since the letter was sent to me, my letter of termination and in the lame man's words – I'd been sacked.

Why? I can't explain it. I don't know why it took them so long to sack me though.

The only reason I agreed to get this annoying job was because I had to pay rent in the small room I lived in after I got kicked out of my father's home by my mom's boyfriend.

Pretty harsh right?

I looked around the small counter I used to call an office. It was made of brown marble and smelt like coffee, mostly because that was my favorite drink.

When you have to go sleep by 2:00am and wake up 5:00am to get ready for work – you'll realize it's a life saver.

The Director, Mr Donald didn't give me any tangible reason for firing me. All he said was that they were running low on revenue and they had to let go of some workers; What a drag.

I frowned as I closed the box and looked around again. I would miss certain things around here but definitely not my interaction with the customers because when you work as a receptionist – You meet well, different kinds of people.

I would miss Mrs. Ember though — the nice old lady who brought me breakfast every morning, she worked as the janitor here.

She was really beautiful and warm. She had big brown eyes that seemed to pull into her sockets and an oval face.

Mrs Ember had little freckles and her long brown hair sat firmly at her shoulders. The woman wasn't too tall and would probably fit for a 5'6ft lady, she was on the slender side and her facial expressions screamed she wasn't one keen on nonsense.

I had met a two of her grand children. the sixty year old woman kept the aura of mother hood in this hotel, she had three grand children who lived with her as her daughter – the mother of those kids, died in a car crash years ago.

Mrs Ember's eldest grand child, popularly known as Emiliana was well, nothing like her Grandma. She was the street girl around here and worked as one of the dancers in a bar not too far away from here, called – LADONA.

"You should really hurry up, or what? Are you still in shock?" I heard someone taunt. My head snapped in the direction of the voice.

"Don't you think you should mind your business or what? Are you looking for a hook up around here?" I snorted at the blonde haired girl in front of me "walk away" I shooed. I was in no mood to deal with her.

"You look horrible" Emiliana spat.

I could never grasp why this girl hated me. It always seemed like she was constantly threatened by my presence and I could never understand why, I assume that she must be over the moon with the news that I had just been fired.

"That's great." I responded dryly.

"I was trying to look like you today. And look," I gestured to the boxes around me "It paid off" I spat sarcastically as I picked up the box that had all my stuff and walked around the counter to where she was.

I got close enough and then spoke, "Here's a small advice, just between the two of us," I said and then continued "Go get a life Emiliana. For everyone's sake" I shot at her and headed out the door with my belongings back to my reality.

The hotel could not even afford a severance pay. All they could afford was apologies. I frowned as I walked down the street, my one room apartment was a few blocks away and I would be messed up if I took a cab.

I didn't even have enough money to sustain me for tomorrow and rent was due tomorrow? I might as well be homeless.

I should probably get a job, but I deserve a break right, c'mon! Besides where and how am I supposed to get a job that will get me enough money to pay my rent and secure me for the next month? Nowhere!

I dragged my feet across the ground as I walked in the direction of my home with the heavy box in my hands. Why do I even have so much stuff? I needed to cut down om my properties because it would be hard to live on the streets with everything I had.

I mean yeah, I might be jumping the gun but I have an unpaid rent of at least three months, don't ask me how the man let the stay there for so long.

I'm pretty sure he did that just so he could have a pretty girl next door, but I am certain that my feminine charms won't work on him tomorrow.

I sighed as I finally reached my small apartment.

I begrudgingly slid the key into the door but it didn't budge. I frowned and stuck it in a few times, it still didn't budge. It wasn't working. I set the box down and mumbled angrily underneath my breath because this was the last thing I needed today.

I tossed that key aside – because maybe I was using the wrong key, I had so many keys because I was very possessive of my stuff and sometimes I confuse them. After using four different keys – I found my hands shaking.

What was going on? Had I some how lost my key? Had emiliana stolen it when I got close to her but then again what would emiliana need my key for, c'mon!

I sucked in a deep breath and tried again. Same thing. I looked through the bunch of keys again and held out the last one.

My hands were shaking and beads of sweat that I was sure was not from the cold air outside cascaded down my face. Just as I was about to scream in frustration at the fact that the last key failed, I saw the landlord.

"Mr Yaser!" I called out as I ran towards him. He was on the other side and the moment he saw me he started speed walking, I raised an eyebrow and continued to run after him, eventually he had to stop to catch his breathe.

We were not too far from my work place now and the man was still panting. I couldn't blame him though, for someone who was as fat as he was — with that huge pot belly — running was a very draining workout — especially for someone who's only form of exercise was yelling at his tenants.

I tied my long blond hair into a bun as I towered over him "My door isn't opening, what's going on? I tried different keys, was there a maintenance check that I had to clue about?" I rambled anxiously "Huh?" I demanded when he refused to speak up.

The man finally stood up straight and stared me dead in the eyes, failing miserably at his attempt to look intimidating. I had to mentally stop myself from rolling my eyes.

"Well miss Dawn, Yes, I changed the keys." He stated as he stared at me.

"I realise that! What I don't understand is why?!" I snapped.

"Well, because your rent is due" He shot back.

"I thought we agreed on tomorrow! Wasn't that the deal?!" I yelled in frustration.

"Well I changed my mind." He yelled back

"What do you mean by you changed your mind? You can't just change overnight, you aren't a sky dammit!" I said as I ran my hands in my hair.

"Where am I supposed to go huh? I don't have a place to stay! And what about my stuff?" I exclaimed as tears pricked my eyes.

"Your stuff is outside and heaven knows that I tried, there months is a big deal!"

"But I have nowhere to go!" I repeated, almost crying. "C'mon just one more day, I'll figure myself out tomorrow" I begged.

"So you don't even have rent?" He quipped at me.

"I- I got fired. I'll make it up to you I promise" I begged.

"That's what you said three months ago Miss Dawn. I'm sorry but someone else owns that place, they've paid in advance for six months, they are moving in today. “ My Yaser said

“I'm sorry." He added and began to walk away. Just like that.

"Mr yaser, please wait, please." I begged as I ran after the man and stopped " just one more night, I can't sleep on the streets, I have nowhere to go!" I begged.

"I assume you have parents?" He shot back.

"They're dead." I responded. It wasn't a total lie. My dad was dead and well my mom, she was dead to me.

"Fine." He sighed. "One night." He said as he looked at me wearily.

"Yes, thank you so much! Thank you so so much!" I said and in my excitement went to hug him but he stopped me.

"On one condition," He announced as I awkwardly stepped away from him

"What condition?" I asked as my lips curled downwards.

"You would stay at my place..." It was his turn to get closer "And um.. we could have fun?" He said as he glanced from my breasts to my eyes.

Had I heard right?