SHE GAVE UP TOO SOON

Ella opened the bedroom door and peeped inside cautiously. She grabbed a bucket from the bathroom and a rag she had spotted on the veranda while entering. After filling the bucket with water, she began scrubbing. First the room, then the living room, the veranda, and the stairs covered in slippery spirogyra. Each stroke of the rag left the floor gleaming, so clean it looked as if the entire house had been renovated overnight.

She moved deliberately, making sure every corner gleamed. By the time she finished scrubbing the stairs and mopping the floor, the old wood shone under the dim light. But the night was already falling, and the remaining grass around the house still needed her attention. With a tired sigh, she left the weeds for tomorrow.

Retreating inside, she took a bath and reluctantly put on the same worn dress, her only outfit. Her stomach growled as she glanced at the old clock in the living room. It was past 9:00 PM, and neither Elion nor Henry had returned. She waited until 2:00 AM before exhaustion overtook her, curling up on the small, rigid sofa and falling into a restless sleep.

Morning came abruptly. Ella woke with a start, as if the night had left a shadow on her mind. She checked the time; it was already past 8:00 AM. Hunger gnawed at her stomach, making her wince. Her footsteps echoed in the small, bare kitchen. Two plates, two small pots, a single bowl, two spoons, a knife, a stove, and a small tray—the kitchen had nothing else.

Crossing her arms, she rested her head on the table, tears sliding down her cheeks. Her stomach growled so loudly it made her flinch. Panic and hunger combined, leaving her feeling utterly helpless.

She turned to the sink, cupped water in her palms, and drank slowly, savoring the liquid like it was a rare treasure. Once satisfied, she locked the tap and trudged to the stairs. Sunlight spilled across the steps, and she sat there, taking in the half-cleared yard. The weeds she hadn’t finished seemed to have multiplied overnight. She frowned and slowly rose, kneeling to continue her work, weeding methodically until the house looked presentable.

Exhausted, she returned to the house, bathed, and collapsed on the sofa, stomach growling, body aching. Sleep eluded her despite the fatigue. Driven by desperation, she rose and wandered through the neighborhood, searching for work. But the streets were empty, the neighborhood lifeless.

“There are no jobs anywhere. How will I get money to eat? This hunger is unbearable. What should I do?” she whispered to herself, desperation creeping into every word.

Then, the familiar sound of wheels approached. Elion and Henry arrived. Elion’s sharp eyes, hidden behind the cold mask of his expression, took in the transformed house. Even he paused, momentarily stunned. Henry, caught off guard, stopped pushing the wheelchair, eyes wide in astonishment. A smile spread across his face, only to vanish when Elion’s domineering voice cut through.

“What’s funny?” Elion demanded, ice dripping from every word.

“Nothing, Young Master,” Henry replied hastily.

Elion’s eyes narrowed. “So you stopped for no reason?”

“I… I got carried away with the work Ella has done,” Henry admitted, unable to hide a hint of pride.

“I didn’t know it takes so little to warm your heart,” Elion mocked.

Before Henry could respond, Elion’s voice hardened. “What did you just call me?”

“I… I’m sorry, bro. I… I’ve been ignoring you, but I won’t let it slide next time,” Henry stammered.

Pushing Elion to the door, Henry reached for the handle; only to find it locked. Panic flitted across his face as he searched for Ella, calling her name. Silence.

“She’s not around,” Henry reported grimly.

Elion’s lips curved into a victorious smirk. “She gave up, after just one day.”

Henry’s voice wavered. “I… I don’t think she left, bro. She might be nearby.”

Elion’s face darkened, rage simmering. “You are siding with a prostitute you barely know?”

Hours passed. The sun climbed higher, casting long shadows across the house. Still, Ella didn’t return.

“Let’s head back,” Elion finally growled.

“Bro, how can we leave without knowing if she’s safe?” Henry protested.

Elion’s wheelchair tilted dangerously as he adjusted, fury radiating from him.

Henry grabbed hold to steady him. “Don’t worry, we’ll check.”

Meanwhile, Ella wasn’t far. Her body was weak, her stomach twisting painfully. She struggled to move, trying to call out, but her voice barely reached her lips. Her vision blurred, darkness creeping at the edges. And then, she collapsed, hitting the ground hard.

The wind whistled across the empty street as silence settled, broken only by her shallow gasps.

Would someone find her before it was too late?

And at that moment, the shadow of Henry and Elion’s wheelchair loomed closer, but would they even notice her lying helplessly on the cold ground?