Chapter 6

Katie tugged at the band she'd used to tie her hair up, and let it fall over her shoulders in loose waves. Another exhausting but well fulfilled day at work was finally over. All she would've really wanted was to rent a taxi, rest her aching legs inside, and go home. But that was merely a wish. She had to save up for the rent. She would not make that mistake.

Her eyes sparkled as she looked from shop to shop along the sidewalk. This was a sort of balm to soothe her aches. Sightseeing. The air seemed cooler and fresher. The streets of California seemed to come alive at night. Lots of colorful lights hung here and there to attract customers to shops. Beautiful decorations with chromatic beams hung loosely from the poles of street lights. But that wasn't the best part. Window shopping! This was what she enjoyed the most about her long walk home at night.

Just as Kate turned a corner, she caught sight of a beautiful corporate outfit on a mannequin from the window of a boutique. She stood