All Chapters of Mine for a Night : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

11:58 PM – Aria’s Foster Home, South L.A.Aria barely made it off the night bus before her phone started ringing again.“Unknown Number” but she already knew who it was.She answered, breathless. “Hello?”“Where the hell are you, Aria?” barked Maureen, the woman who’d raised her since she was thirteen. “You think you’re grown now? You’re needed at home!”Aria frowned. “Needed for what? I just got off work. It's midnight, Maureen.”“Well, your shift ain’t my business, is it? Your foster daddy is in trouble.”Aria stiffened. “What kind of trouble?”“Just bring cash. And hurry. I ain’t explaining over the phone.” Click.She sighed and Just like that, she started walking. The night air was cold, and her thin jacket didn’t do much. She gripped the envelope in her bag tightly tips she hadn’t even counted yet.When she got to the worn-down house, Maureen was already waiting on the porch, arms folded.“You’re just getting here? You took your sweet time,” she spat.“I came straight from work,”

The ocean stretched endlessly before her, a sheet of silver under the early morning sun. Waves lapped gently against the sand, their rhythmic hush the only sound in the quiet dawn.Aria wandered around for a long time and finally found a little peace when He came across the Beach.Aria sat on a weathered wooden bench, hugging her thin sweater tightly around her. The salty wind tangled her hair, but she didn’t move to fix it. She didn’t move at all.Her bag lay on the bench beside her. Inside, the envelope with the check felt heavier than bricks. Twenty thousand dollars. Enough to change Her life.And yet, her chest felt hollow.She drew her knees up to her chest, staring at the horizon. If she squinted, she could almost imagine the sea swallowing the memory of last night—the heat of his hands, the softness of his voice, the way he looked at her like she was more than a nobody.Until he disappeared.She blinked hard as her throat tightened. Why did I expect more? She had known what it

By the time the sun disappeared behind the towering buildings, the park was almost empty. The children’s laughter was replaced by car horns and the low hum of streetlights flickering on.Aria sat on the same worn bench, her bag clutched to her chest like a lifeline. The breeze turned cooler, slipping under her thin sweater and making her shiver.She looked down at her reflection in the darkened screen of her phone. Her hair was limp, her face pale, and exhaustion dragged shadows under her eyes. "God, I look like I’ve been dragged through hell."And she felt it too. Her skin itched with sweat from the long trip, her muscles ached, and all she wanted was a hot shower and a soft bed—simple things that suddenly felt like luxuries in a world she couldn’t afford.Her stomach growled, breaking the silence. She dug into her bag and pulled out the paper bag she’d bought earlier: two buns and a can of soda. Her fingers shook as she unwrapped the first bun. It was stale, but she ate anyway, wash

The sun was barely up when Aria woke to the sound of birds squabbling in the park trees. Her back ached from the cold, hard ground, and her clothes clung damply to her skin. For a moment, she just sat there, blinking against the pale morning light, wishing it was all a bad dream.But the crumpled soda can and empty paper bag by her side told her it wasn’t.Her stomach growled loud and angry, reminding her she hadn’t eaten since those two buns last night. She got to her feet slowly, slinging her bag over her shoulder and brushing the dirt off her sweater.“I need food,” she murmured under her breath.She wandered the streets, past clusters of small shops opening for the day, past food stalls frying golden pastries that sent her stomach twisting with hunger. Everything smelled like heaven—and cost more than she could afford to waste."Aria Save the money, Make a plan and Don’t be stupid to spend unnecessarily"She repeated the words like a prayer as she walked.And then she saw it.A fa

Aria wiped her mouth with the paper napkin and leaned back in the metal chair, a smile tugging at her lips. Her plate was empty... completely empty and for the first time in days, her stomach didn’t feel like it was gnawing on itself.She let out a satisfied sigh. she didn't believe she just ate real food. Actual food.The little diner on the corner had been nothing fancy, just fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and a glass of water—but to Aria, it tasted like heaven. She almost wanted to hug the waitress when she cleared the plate.“Done already?” the waitress asked with a grin.Aria chuckled softly. “Trust me, I could lick the plate clean.”The woman laughed and walked away, and Aria sat there for a moment, savoring the warmth in her belly before slipping the bill under her fingers. It stung a little, handing over those crumpled bills, but she reminded herself: Food is fuel. You need this energy for today.Outside, the chilly Chicago breeze nipped at her cheeks as she stepped onto the