Chapter 5 – Why is it so expensive?

The bus ride was long and quiet. Aria spent most of the night staring out the window, her thoughts spinning faster than the wheels beneath her. The city lights faded into dark highways, and eventually into nothing but streaks of dawn across the horizon.

She clutched her bag to her chest the whole time, her fingers brushing against the envelope inside like it could disappear if she let go.

When the bus finally pulled into the station, it was almost noon. Aria stepped off and blinked against the harsh sunlight, exhaustion pressing down on her like bricks. The air smelled different here—cleaner, fresher—but the weight in her chest hadn’t changed.

This was supposed to be her escape. Her new beginning.

"I need to find a Taxi and get a small apartment as soon as possible" she said to herself

She dragged her small duffel behind her and walked toward the cluster of taxis outside. “Excuse me,” she said softly to a driver, “can you take me to a decent apartment building? Something affordable.”

The man gave her a quick once-over, then shrugged. “You want cheap? Good luck. This city ain’t for poor people you know.”

His words made her stomach twist, but she climbed in anyway.

They drove past streets lined with coffee shops, shiny boutiques, and restaurants filled with laughing faces. It all looked so… perfect. So out of reach.

Finally, the cab stopped in front of a beige building with peeling paint. “Cheapest in the area,” the driver said flatly.

Aria thanked him and stepped inside, her heart sinking as she saw the cracked tiles and dim hallways. But beggars couldn’t be choosers, right?

She approached the front desk where a tired-looking woman chewed gum loudly. “Hi,” Aria said, forcing a smile. “I’m looking for a small apartment. Just something simple.”

The woman popped her gum, tapped a few keys, and rattled off a number that made Aria’s stomach drop.

“That’s… per month?” Aria asked weakly.

“Plus deposit,” the woman added without looking up.

Aria swallowed hard. The total would wipe out almost half of what she had. And that was for a place that smelled faintly of mildew and despair.

“Can I… think about it?” Aria whispered.

“Suit yourself,” the woman said, already turning to the next person in line.

Aria walked out into the scorching afternoon sun, her pulse hammering in her ears. The streets buzzed with life, cars honking, people rushing by with iced coffees and shopping bags. She stood there with her duffel bag, her world feeling like it was caving in.

"Why is it so expensive?... it's not like the city is very beautiful..."

She’d thought twenty thousand dollars would be enough to start fresh. Enough to breathe.

But here? It was barely enough to survive.

Her feet carried her toward a small park nearby. She sank onto a bench under a dying tree, staring blankly at the kids playing in the distance, their laughter ringing like bells she couldn’t reach.

What now?

She couldn’t go back—not to the bar, not to Maureen’s house. And now, she couldn’t even afford the life she’d imagined here.

Her fingers curled around the strap of her bag. She still had options, right? She could find a smaller town. A quieter place. Somewhere cheaper.

But for now… she had nowhere to go.

The park would have to do until she figured out her next move.

As the sun dipped lower, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, Aria sat there on the bench, clutching her bag and praying to a God she wasn’t sure still listened.

Because right now, she was as lost as the wind.