Chapter 5: Lucky Lena

Lena smiled as she wiped the counter of Drew's Diner, humming a tune that she had heard on the radio. She loved working here, not only because it paid her bills, but also because it gave her a chance to interact with different people and make friends. The diner was one of the few places in the slums that felt warm and welcoming, with its bright lights and colorful posters, its cozy booths and stools, its delicious smells and sounds. It was a contrast to the rest of the slums, which were dark and dreary, with its flickering neon signs and graffiti walls, its crowded alleys and sidewalks, its harsh noises and odors.

Her only friends was Laurel, a bubbly blonde who worked as a waitress with her. Laurel was always gossiping about the latest news and drama in the slums, especially about her crushes.

"Did you see that guy who came in today?" Laurel asked Lena, as they took a break in the back room. The back room was small and cluttered, with a fridge and a microwave, a sink and a cupboard, a