MIRA

I push open the creaky front door very carefully, as quietly as I can. I feel like shit. I’m so late, in fact, the latest I’ve ever been.

I carried the weight of my whole body so it wouldn’t make the floorboards creak so much as I went into Nora’s room to check on her.

“Mira?” she said softly

“It’s me nugget, go back to sleep.”

I whisper, running my fingers through her hair. I kiss her forehead and watch her fall back to sleep peacefully.

I carefully cover her body with her pink blanket, making sure she stays warm. She’s such a sweet girl. If only life cared about that.

I slowly enter my room, dropping the bag I brought home on the floor close to my desk. I pull off my clothes, and the cold breeze hit me like it hated me.

I quickly collapse into bed, and the springs moan under my weight. I was familiar with that one. I quickly put the batteries back into the alarm, since that was the only thing I trusted to wake me up, the way it did.

I barely got enough sleep as it was.

I squeeze myself up under the blanket, and my toes curl backwards so much that the toe knuckles crack so loudly.

I turn towards the direction of the mansion. The rays of light from it is so bright that it reaches my window glass. I loved to look at it, because then I could pretend it was my light at the end of this tunnel.

My heart leapt a little; the thought of going to feed apples to horses the next day was on my mind. Horses, I wasn’t sure, had left that stable in like forever. It was like the owner, my landlord, got it as part of his collection.

I’ll have as much as 200 bucks to cater to my needs this weekend. And all I need to do was brush the hairs of horses', and clean up the stables.

I worked harder at Hank’s but I didn’t even earn as much as I did working for my landlord. Who I haven’t ever seen. My chest got heavy as I thought about it. I move back and forth in bed, unable to stay still.

How could people with so much not know what to do with money, yet they refuse to help people? Life can be unfair. I thought slowly

I squeeze my blankets so hard, till I could feel the pain in my muscles, trying not to let that one tear drop, so that a million others wouldn’t follow.

I suck in one big breath and suddenly, just when my eyes wanted to fall onto each other, for some sleep, the picture came.

Who was that stranger, and what was he doing there?

For someone who look really handsome in not-so-cheap clothes, he was the definition of a magazine fine. Jaws sharp, like it was carefully carved out by a sculptor. A professional.

I roll over on the bed numerous times, squeezing the pillow. But it didn’t matter. I may never see him again. Guys like that didn’t cross into my world ever.

It was usually a one-time thing. But for him, I felt as though he was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Never again will that happen. I wonder what brought him to the bar. He looks as though he was searching for something at the bottom of a bottle.

Something money couldn’t buy. I heave out a huge sigh, so much, l let out all my breath, shoving away the thought.

Tomorrow’s going to be a long day.. I thought

The alarm scream at me, making my ears ring for at least a few seconds, as usual. It hated me.

I open my eyes, even though they still feel very heavy. I still felt the haze from last night from the beer I had to jug down to escape the shitty reality of my life.

I sat up, my whole body still aching from yesterday’s shift.

I went into the kitchen. I brought back bread yesterday. A loaf. Mr McKie's milky sliced bread was my go-to. It was soft and really fluffy. Full of flavor and would make your mouth water.

“How'd you make these again, Mr Mac?” I’d asked, a big smile spread across my face. One that made my cheeks ache.

“With my secret ingredient.” He'd tease, giving me a wink.

Mr Mak ran the bakery with his old wife. His bread was one of the best in town.

Nora loves sandwiches because of the bread, and so I'd get the bread during my lunch break.

It usually lasted us for three days. At least. I reached for milk and made a little tea for her.

I scraped together a toast and fried eggs for her before waking her up.

"Morning sisss..."

She blinked at the plate like it was a feast.

"Morning bug, did you sleep well?"

"I did. You were home late last night. Did you go somewhere with Uncle Jase?" she asked, with her mouth full.

"Uhm, yeah. But I came back as soon as I could."

“Stables today?”

"Yes, bug."

I said, I ran my fingers through my hair, to make sure they were a bit arranged, before tying them behind.

"You, be good today, okay?" I added, giving a kiss on her cheek.

I didn't usually shower before I leave. What difference would it make? I'd still step into the dried horse dung in and around the stables. The haystacks usually stays glued onto my gloves, and in an attempt to rub them off, they’d fly and get stuck on my jacket.

It’s a disaster.

My thick knee-high boot had a hole in front. Just a little. I have always thought about replacing them with new ones that'll serve a longer purpose.

But Nora came first. Then, a little grocery shopping for the house.

It was my routine, and I stuck to it, with the hope that one day, the circle would turn straight, and I'd have a better life. I deserve it. Nora did too. She was the sweetest little girl, and very understanding for that age.

Her smile was shy but hopeful. She knew that not only did it mean cash, she'd get candy from me. Because of her teeth, I made sure she had less candy.

It was a way for me to stay ahead of the situation of my hollow pocket, but I knew that, that way, she'd appreciate it more anytime she was given.

I wasn't usually given enough. What I got was not much. It wasn't, but it was enough to stretch.

Enough to buy her that notebook she'd been asking for, and also some new socks without holes.

Even though I need the money, I loathe the fact that I had to work there. I hate that I had to struggle to get her nice things, the barest minimum, like notebooks and socks.

But I also love the way her eyes lit up when even the smallest thing was done. Like how I repair the zipper of her pink Barbie school bag, and bought her a nice bike to ride around town with.

I had to work extra hours for mad Hank to save up for that. And, it was all worth it in the end. She was the type to show appreciation with a big smile and a huge hug. And those were enough to warm my soul.