Chapter 14: The Lion's Den

Day 6: Abeni's eyes fluttered open, the sunlight streaming through her bedroom window burning her eyelids like fire. She winced and squinted, trying to focus on the alarm clock on her bedside table. It was already half past six. She let out a groan, threw off the covers and rolled out of bed. As she stood up, her muscles protested, reminding her of the long hours she had put in at the bakery yesterday. She padded over to her closet, rummaging through the hangers and dresser drawers for something suitable to wear. Finally, she found a pair of clean jeans and a comfy sweater that would keep her warm during her walk to the bus stop.

After quickly brushing her teeth and combing her hair, she hurried out of her apartment, locking the door behind her. The chilly autumn air nipped at her fingers and toes as she made her way down the quiet, tree-lined street. She could already see her breath clouding in front of her face. The smell of freshly baked bread wafted toward her, reminding her