CHAPTER ONE

RITA'S POV: 

"Gringggggg….." 

"Argh…" she says with a muffled voice then rolls over lazily within her sheets, to tap the upsetting alarm. 

It's 7 am and to make it worse, it's Monday; the day she dreads greatly. She sits erect and then runs her hand through her hair, her vision is blurry but she manages to lift herself from the bed, then trudges to the bathroom. 

Rita Peterson is always having a hard time every morning, trying to beat time for work except on Sundays of course. She looked at the mirror and tied her hair into a messy bun, plastered some toothpaste on her toothbrush then scrubbed her canines vigorously.

She took a quick shower and hurriedly slipped into pallid blue jeans and a worn-out red t-shirt. Almost everything she possesses is geriatric and tired but she retains them until anyone is probably torn or spoilt beyond repair. Having two jobs is like a living hell; although the timing doesn't clash, she still wishes for a break sometimes. 

Rita works as a janitress for a hospital in the mornings and a waitress at night for a restaurant. Both paychecks are barely enough to keep up with her bills and of course, buy new clothes.

She looked at her shoe rack and wondered what to wear today since it was Monday. She owns just three pairs of shoes, a ballet flat, black sneakers, and one age-long black boot. Picking up the black sneakers, she looked at them closely, trying to decide which shoe exactly she should put on since the sneaker's soles looked so frayed and scruffy but she was left with little or no choice. She slipped it on then took hold of the black backpack she owned since freshman year and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her. 

"There you are!" a familiar feminine voice spoke up, coercing her to lift her head to see who it was. It's Olivia, her best friend from high school. 

"Have a seat, I made breakfast" Olivia continued with a stern but calm voice. 

"Thank you, Olivia but I'm not hungry, besides I'm late for work," Rita said with a faint smile. 

"You know I'm not taking no for an answer," she says with feigned annoyance. 

Rita knows how her friend can be, authoritative and blunt sometimes, arguing with her is a total waste of time because Olivia will win. 

She's older than Rita by a year and took up the mantle of caring and accommodation since she lost her parents during her senior year in high school. 

"Okay, you win," Rita says, rolling her eyes. 

She dropped her backpack on the table and settled for the meal set in front of her. It is pancakes and eggs with a glass of orange juice by the side. She hurriedly stuffed some pancakes into her mouth and sipped some juice simultaneously.

"When did you get home last night?" Rita asks, fixing her gaze on Olivia. 

"Oh, I got in about an hour ago, you were asleep and I didn't want to disturb you," says Olivia, taking a seat beside Rita. 

"I see. I'm sorry I didn't call you last night, I was so exhausted and went to bed early" Rita says with a tone of remorse. 

"You don't have to apologize, I understand"

"What is the time now?"

Olivia glanced at her wristwatch and said out loud, "It's 7:30 precisely"

"Oh shit! I'm running late" Rita says and hastily gulps the content of the glass cup. "Thanks for the breakfast, you're a darling" 

"You're welcome" Olivia responds with a smile. 

Rita picked up her backpack and raced towards the door. 

"Make sure you have lunch today!" Olivia hollered from behind, with her hands akimbo. 

"Sure, I will. Love you" Rita says and shuts the door. She held onto her backpack with one hand and walked hurriedly along the road. She took out a small android phone with a terrible wacky screen, she turned it on and decided to book a taxi. 

The ride to the hospital was swift since it wasn't too far from home, she paid the driver and sped towards her workplace. 

"Rita, you're late," a voice spoke immediately as she got into the workspace for janitors. That is Mrs. Anna, her chaotic supervisor.

"I'm so sorry, ma'am" she responds with a tone of remorse. 

"What time are you supposed to resume?" Mrs. Anna says haughtily, she should be in her early fifties. 

Her hair is gunmetal grey and is long and lush; sometimes, her eyes can appear milky when she is tired but usually they are gleaming with energy on Mondays like this. Her face is pale and pretty even with her age; anyone can tell that she must have been a beautiful woman in her younger days. 

She's wearing the normal navy blue shirt and plain trousers uniform for janitors in the hospital. 

"8 am, ma'am" Rita responds with her eyes on the ground. She knows that getting on this woman's nerves could cost her job, so the best thing is to remain as calm as possible. 

"You came in at 8:20 am" 

"I'm sorry ma'am, won't happen ever again". 

Mrs. Anna gives her a long and hard stare, if looks were knives, they would pierce deep into Rita's soul. Mrs. Anna rolled her eyes and said with a tone of finality, "Fine, change into your work clothes and report to your duties now!" 

"Thanks, ma'am," Rita says and turns to walk towards her locker, when Mrs. Anna spoke up behind her, "This is the last time I'm letting you go, understood?"

"Yes ma'am. Perfectly understood." She watched Mrs. Anna walk away, holding a small file, which should be for taking some work-related notes. Rita switched to her work clothes and took out her work equipment contained in a mop bucket with wheels then rolled it along the hospital hallway, occasionally smiling at some patients or visitors who cared to say "hello".