Novel-novel oleh Meeka El

MIRABy the time my shift finally crawls toward evening, my feet throb like someone’s driven hot nails into them, and my shoulders ache from lifting trays, cleaning, and mopping.My brain buzzes with exhaustion, and I have to blink numerous times to keep my vision from going blurry. Jase is right. I need at least one drink to numb my pain.Just when I think the day’s over, a man in a cheap suit leans back in his booth with a grin that puts me on edge, like he owns the place, but I see weird faces every day; it’s part of the job.“Soooo, Mira, huh? You got a boyfriend?”I sigh as I set down his burger.“You got an appetite?”“Ha!! Feisty, I love that,” he says, laughing out loud, like he’s trying to impress me.“Here’s my card. Call me anytime. I’m sure we can make things work,” he whispers and winks.I slap my forehead with my right hand, my cheeks squeezing as I walk away, his words icks me out.By the time Hank barks, “Clock out!” My whole body aches like it’s been through a meat

JACKSON Ding ding! I press the little bell on the table in my room. I’ve drained the tub, wrapped myself in the white towel. My hand, still bleeding, leaves trails of blood as I step into the silence of the room. My eyes squeeze, my brows curl at how fast the response comes. It’s like someone is waiting just outside my door in case I need anything. I turn toward the door. “It’s open!” I yell. “Yes, sir,” she says softly as she comes inside the room. “Were you outside my room?” “No, sir, but I came as soon as I heard the bell. We’re obligated to meet your every need till you leave. Oh, shit! sir, your.. your hand is bleeding. Let me quickly get that for you.” “Yes, that’s why I called for someone, but before you begin, pour me a drink.” I gesture at the drink with my finger, pointing to the table to ensure she knows what I want. “What’s your name?” “Faye, sir,” she responds under her breath. “Let me ask you, Miss Faye,” I lick my lips as I say in a flirty manner, looking rig

JACKSONI feel hollow, like my insides have been scooped out, and only a man-shaped shell in expensive clothing is left. Who prepares for situations like this? I think.Jerry goes back and scrolls through updates on his laptop.I lean back and shut my eyes as I anticipate what awaits ahead at sea and whether I’m ready to face it.By the time the jet lands, we walk out, and for the first time, there are no flashbulbs, no cameras, no questions waiting for me.As the SUV turns onto the coastal road hours later, the world feels quieter—too quiet, even.“We’re here!” Jerry says, alerted, as he closes his laptop with a snap.Sunrise Bay is exactly as I remember it. Isolated, nothing but cliffs for a while, the woods, and the drive that curls down into the estate.The mansion appears suddenly, all pale stone, its windows dark, and it looks less like a refuge and more like something that’s been abandoned by time itself.The house hasn’t changed, not a bit.The scent of dry wood, sawdust, and

MIRAI hate that I have to smile through all that because I need the paycheck, and most of all, I hate that I can’t afford to quit; it’s my only way of balancing the bills.By 10 a.m., my back aches, like I’m carrying the whole world around, and my patience is already as slim as a sewing thread.Hank asks me to re-mop the entire kitchen floor even though it’s already neat, just because he catches me leaning against the counter for a few seconds. It’s as if he’s always after me. I don’t know.“I don’t pay you to rest,” he snaps. “I pay you to work!”Jason whispers, “Fuck him! I think he’s competing for something.” I let out a soft laugh, but the laughter doesn’t fix the exhaustion. It doesn’t fix the fact that my pay envelope is too thin, and it also doesn’t fix the fact that my paycheck isn’t coming in a week.I scrub the mop across the tiles till my shoulders ache, trying not to shed a tear because I know that when I start, I won’t stop that easily. Besides, I’d rather walk home, eve

MIRAOf course, it’s morning again!” I grumble as I sit up and turn off the alarm, which screams like it hates me. 6 a.m., same as every day.The alarm is old. So old that I have to remove the battery before it can go off. Who knows how long Aunt May had it before me?I swing my legs out of bed slowly, praying I don’t doze back off, but I wince when the cold floor hits my bare feet.For some moments, like always, I just sit there in the dim room, head in my hands, elbows on my knees, wondering what I did in my previous life to warrant such punishment in this one.No one should live like this, I think.“Mira?” her tiny little voice drifts from the other room.My spine straightens up as fast as possible. “It’s okay, nugget,” I called back, forcing brightness into my voice.“Go back to sleep, hun, I’m just getting up to prepare for work.” I whisperShe gives out a sleepy murmur, and then silence.I push to my feet, and the floorboards creak as I take each step away from my room to the ki

JACKSONI speak coldly to Aurora as I hold her hands and slowly take them off my cheek. My heart aches at the sight of the tears running down her cheek.She pulls out a soft piece of tissue that sits atop the dressing table and slowly wipes it off.She gets the message.“Sam will drive you home,” I add with a cracking voice, looking away.I dread the thought of being robbed of the chance to fight this fire with a bigger inferno, but according to Jerry, it’s for my own safety.“Jerry! Where to now?”“Urh! Your coastal estate, the one at Sunrise Bay.”“Sunrise Bay? That place is… remote, and filled with local people. The area is so dry, and most parts are undeveloped. I’d be surprised if you had any internet over there.” Her tone reeks of disgust and distaste. Of course, it doesn’t fit her lifestyle.“Can I at least have a few things packed up?” I question Jerry, who’s standing at the door, tapping his foot consistently with folded fists.“I’m afraid not. Every second matters. I’ll leav