The morning sun rose cold and gray over the eastern slums of the city, casting a dim light into the small studio apartment on 4th Street.Monica Robert sat on the edge of a sagging twin mattress, her messy dark hair tied back in a loose, faded scrunchie. She wore an oversized gray sweatshirt and denim jeans.It had been four days since her aunt had finally gathered enough money to pay her bail, pulling her out of the damp, cold shadows of Cell Block."Drink your tea, Monica," her aunt called out from the tiny kitchen alcove, the smell of burnt toast and tea filling the small room. "And stop staring at that glass screen all day. You need to start looking for a real job. There's a bakery down the street.""In a minute, Aunt Sarah," Monica muttered softly, her thumb sliding rapidly over the glass of her phone.She was scrolling through her social media feed, without much interest, looking at entertainment gossip blogs and local news channels.Suddenly, her thumb stopped dead in its trac
Last Updated : 2026-09-16 Read more