Chapter 4

Daria

My head is spinning after being hit by the front of a Volvo, but I'm not dead or injured. I'm lying on my back while this stranger, an older woman, is scanning me for wounds with darting eyes. Worry is written all over her face.

But I can't take in the rest of her features.

I'm having a hard time focusing. For a long time, I'm just watching the birch trees sway from side to side in this ghostly way. A headache is building behind my temples, but my tumor has made me accustomed to pain. I don't mind it that much.

With slouchy movements, I turn my attention to the lady. She is wearing a purple shawl over clean white clothes. Her skin is tanned dark from too much time in the sun, and her lips are wrinkly from what I can only assume is years of smoking. But she is omitting this kindness, and her brown eyes are as warm as chocolate on a snowy day.

"Are you hurt anywhere?" She asks.

"No..." I take a deep, calming breath. There is no reason to shake up this woman by admitting I'm in agony. I'm not sure which is from cancer and what comes from falling onto my back. "I'm just super dizzy. It feels like my head is floating."

"Oh, my goodness! That's such a relief!" The older woman is pressing one palm to my chest while the other is behind my neck, helping me sit up. She is much stronger than I thought. "You came out of nowhere—I didn't expect that! Are you alright, darling?"

I blink multiple times to stop seeing double. The older lady glances down at my underwear, then takes off her shawl with a knowing expression. Her eyes glimpse into mine, and a smile forms on her old lips.

"I came here to see one of my sisters." The older lady explains. "I've never understood her nun lifestyle, but who am I to judge?" She reaches out her hand, beaming at me in this mysterious old-woman-who-knows-secret way. "The name is Iris, and I welcome you to a new life."

"My name is Daria." I shake her hand, disoriented. I'm half-convinced that I'm hallucinating this conversation is even happening. "What did you mean by saying you welcome me to a new life?"

She nods at my clothes, or more like at my lack of them. "You've left your old one behind, am I correct?"

Smiling sheepishly, I drape her warm shawl over me, grateful to be covered, and Iris walks to her car while humming to herself.

With a yank, she opens the backseat door. I study her in silence. The older woman seems to search for something, throwing stuff while muttering to herself. I notice she is extremely short, like a dwarf, and I giggle when I see countless golden necklaces cover her wrists.

"Ah!" Iris exclaims, and then she walks over to me, holding up a black dress with green marijuana leaves. It's the ugliest thing I've ever seen, so terrible I wonder who could have designed it. "You can wear this until we get to our location! My sister can wait!"

My eyes widen into what I imagine must be the size of saucers—even my blood freezes over. I've never done drugs, and the mere idea of wearing this dress sends panic into my chest.

"I can't wear that!" I practically shout at her. "Drugs are bad, and I shouldn't be wearing that!"

A cold wind dances past my naked legs, and I chatter my teeth. It's freezing outside, and Iris gives me a smug smile. Her dark eyes are gleaming with mischief.

"Would you rather freeze?" She asks.

"No, I suppose not..." I mumble. "It is rather cold."

I'm more convinced to wear the marijuana dress after having experienced an Antarctic breeze. Winter is on its way.

"Excellent." Iris hands me the dress, and then she jumps into the car. She leaves the door open to talk with me. "My sister is a landlord over an apartment complex, and since I almost killed you, I can offer you shelter for tonight. I hate Elisabeth with a passion, but she owes me a favor, so consider it done."

My lips move into a hesitant smile as I'm pulling on the questionable dress. It's way too small for a woman with my curves—my boobs are trying to escape by fleeting over. Nevertheless, I'm grateful not to stand half-naked in the cold weather.

"You hate your sister, and yet you would convince her to let me stay the night?"

Iris nods. "I will pay her if I must."

A boost of happiness surges through my veins, resulting in me running up to Iris and hugging her. At first, she becomes tense, but then her frail hands find my back. She leans into me, closing her eyes, and allows me to show my gratitude.

"There, there, darling," Iris is speaking in her hoarse smoker voice—she even smells like cigarettes too. "I'm the one who ran over you. I owe you a favor, and this is easy."

I back away from her, drying a tear with my fingertip. My lips are twitching from Iris' shown kindness. Even if we had a bit of a rough start, I like her already. I've already long forgotten that I could have ended up in the hospital because of her careless driving.

"I would gladly accept a room for the night. Maybe I could convince your sister to let me stay, even if I can't pay her straight away."

Iris grimaces. "Don't get your hopes up, kid. My sister is the devil herself, but who knows? It doesn't hurt to ask her. Now, why don't you get into the car so we can leave this place behind us?"

I beam at her. "Sure!"