The sharp sting of Miriam's slap across her cheek jolted Amelia awake. Her eyes snapped open, the sting still echoing on her skin. Her heart raced as she struggled to adjust to the dim light filtering through the curtains. It wasn't yet sunrise, but the
harsh reality of her life waited for her,as it always did.
"Get up, girl," Miriam's cold voice rang through the small bedroom. " It's time to make breakfast.The house won't run itself."
Amelia winced, biting her lip to stop herself from responding. She'd learned long ago that it was safer to remain silent. She rolled out of bed and quickly dressed in her worn-out clothes, the fabric clinging to her thin frame. Her father's old photos, the ones still hanging crookedly on the walls, seemed like distant memories now. He had passed away a few months ago, leaving her with Mir-
iam who wasted no time in showing her true colors.
The kitchen was just as cold as the rest of the house, a faint smell of stale coffee lingered in the air. Amelia shuffled to the stove and started preparing breakfast. Miriam sat at the table,flipping through a magazine, her two childrenCarla and
Callumsitting at the table already starting their meals. They were quiet, as they always were when Miriam was in one of her moods.
" Don't you think you could put a little more effort into the eggs, Amelia?" Miriam snapped, her eyes narrowing as she examined the food. "They look like they came from a pigsty."
Amelia didn't respond, though her hands tightened around the spatula. She'd learned long ago thatspeaking out only made things worse. The only thing that kept her going was the thought of escaping this house, even if only for a few hours at a
time.Once breakfast was done, she quietly served it, setting the plates down in front of each person. Miriam gave her a dismissive look as she dug into her food.
" Don't just stand there. Clean up when you're done," Miriam ordered.
Amelia nodded, her stomach tight with hunger. But there was no time for her to eat. She couldn't remember the last time she'd had a proper meal. As soon as the dishes were cleared, shequickly grabbed her jacket and bag, ready for another day of work.
The diner was just as she remembered quiet, cold, and the air thick with the scent of coffee and greasy food. Amelia walked behind the counter and quickly got to work, filling coffee mugs,taking orders, and moving as efficiently as she could. The
customers came and went, their faces a blur as she focused on getting the job done. The pay wasn't great, but it was enough to survive. For
now, that was all that mattered. As the day wore on, her thoughts were consumed
by her home life. She couldn't shake the memory of Miriam's cold voice, the harsh words, the cons-mtant reminder that she didn't belong there, Amelia knew
that when she returned home, nothing would have changed. The same empty house, the same cruel treatment. And yet, she couldn't help but hold onto the hope that someday it would be different.
Someday, she would be free.
By the time her shift at the diner ended, the sun had set, and the city's nightlife had begun to stir. Amelia knew what came next. She walked the familiar path to the club, the same grimace on her face as she prepared herself for another night of serving drinks to men who never looked at her twice.
The club was dark, the music loud, the air thick with the scent of alcohol and smoke.
Inside, everything was a blur. The strobe lights flashed in her eyes as she moved through the crowd, taking drink orders and collecting empty glasses.Her uniform clung to her, but thediscomfort of it
paled in comparison to the constant, gnawing feeling of dread. She was tired of the club, tired of her home life, tired of being invisible. And then she saw him.
A tall man, dark-haired and broad-shouldered, staggered through the door. He was clearly drunk his movements were unsteady, and his eyes were bloodshot, his face pale. He seemed to be having difficulty finding his footing, but there was something in the way he held himself that caught her attention. He wasn't just another drunk in the club. There was an intensity in his presence, something unsettling that drew her in against her will.
Amelia paused, her heart racing for reasons she couldn't explain. She watched as he made his way
toward the VIP section, his body language tense and guarded. Her instincts told her something was off, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She shook her head and forced herself to keep working. There was nothing she could do about it, after all. He was just another customer, nothing more. But still, her eyes kept drifting back to him, watching as he took a seat in the corner of the VIP
area. She couldn't shake the feeling that she'd just witnessed something important, something that would change everything.
- --
As the night wore on and her shift finally came to an end, Amelia found herself once again heading toward the back rooms. The club was emptying out, the loud music now replaced by the muffled sounds of people saying their goodbyes. She nee ded to make sure the area was clean before leaving, but her mind kept wandering back to the man
in the VIP section.
What was it about him that made her so … uneasy?
Or was it something else entirely?
The moment she reached the door to the back rooms, she heard footsteps behind her. Slowly, she turned. And there he was again the man from earlier, looking even more disoriented than before.
"Are you alright?" she asked before she could stop herself. The words came out too quickly, her concern bleeding through her professional demeanor.
His gaze was unfocused, but there was something in his eyes that made her pause. For amoment, their eyes met, and she saw the pain behind his distant stare. He took a deep breath and straightened up, attem-
pting to steady himself. " I'm fine," he muttered,but Amelia wasn't so sure. He didn't look fine not at all.
Before she could say anything else, he turned and walked out of the room, his back to her as he stumbled toward the exit.
As Amelia stood there, a strange feeling settled in her chest. Would she see him again? Who was he?
And why did it feel like their paths had crossed for a reason?