Just woke up and the first thing she saw on TV was riots, attacks and a whole bunch of fighting. Every day new would bring up some reports about wars in this and that country. With a sigh, she was about to turn it off when she saw pictures in the capital. She turned the voice on and while she was preparing coffee she was listening to the reporter.
''Just now in front of the White House a whole group of people attacked a group of tourist and ate them. Yes, you heard it right, they ate them..."
Maria started laughing. "At least comedy in the early morning." That was probably one of those setups and surprise shows.
She quickly checked her watch and saw that she will be just on time to catch the bus so she turned the TV off not seeing how the reporter himself was attacked and ripped apart.
It was just 5 am and only a few people were in bus rushing to do just like her odd jobs. In her case, it was cleaning apartment building stairways. In the early morning, she would clean them so when people go to work it's already dry and ready to walk. At 6 am she had to clean some offices nearby. Then next was 8 am one of the villas.
She sat there and was thinking about her own life. Escaping from war herself she hated watching it on TV or listening about it. Revering how she desperately did all she could to escape from the warzone her eyes became unfocused.
Running, so much running and hiding... Just as she was feeling safe, a group of soldiers captured her and brought to their division. What happened after that she had no idea. Her doctor told her that her mind didn't want to remember such a thing so it just erased completely the memories between her being captured and her being rescued by forces and brought to this country.
Now she is here already ten years and still doesn't feel like getting married, ever. While cleaning other people homes she saw so many nasty relationships that she was convinced about her own decision. Living alone was OK.
Suddenly a screeching sound woke her up from her daze. A car roared past them and went into another street under bus driver curses. "Damn children. Racing even at this time of day. Are they going crazy or something. Every day they are getting worse."
Maria slowly stood up as she was at her destination and yawned. As the bus was gone only sounds of her steps could be heard. A strange feeling of urgency made her speed up and as soon she entered the apartment building she relaxed.
Taking everything she needed to the top floor she started cleaning. First the railings of each floor and the windows and then stairway. Luckily the apartment building had only five levels so her work was done fast. Just as she finished the last stairs she heard click sound in the upper floor and heard few people talking but luckily as it seems they were going up to the flat roof.
She just shrugged and as she finished storing everything she walked out and could see few people running past her. Such thing in the early morning was common so she just calmly opened the door to the office building and locked behind her. She saw the security man snoring and chuckled.
He was more sleeping than watching what is going on. But then thought about the offices she had to clean up and rushed to the upper floors. Luckily the elevators were working this time.
At first, she cleaned all the baskets and when she was about to start vacuum cleaning she heard the opening of the door behind her. She jumped in fright but saw the old security man smiling at her. With a pat over her heart, she smiled back.
"Mr Johnson sorry if I woke you up."
"Maria, I already told you, Jack. Call me Jack like everyone else."
"Sigh. Fine. Jack..." She gave up. Actually she just wanted to show her respect. But as it seems he hated it.
''There are many strange people on streets, aren't you scared to come this early?''
She glanced and saw his worried expression. ''No. I feel actually comfortable this early in the morning. Most people or are too drunk to do anything or are about to wake up. Either the way they are not many on the streets. Just some of us that do the odd jobs that no one else wants.''
He nodded. He knew she did many jobs at the same time, but thinking about her situation he sighed. ''You still live in that old building? I know that apartments there are cheap but...''
She chuckled. ''I am mostly just showering and sleeping there. It's not like I have time to live. It's cheaper than taking motel room and I can always afford the monthly payment.''
He shook his head and sighed. ''Listen I will show you something.'' His steps went to the windows and he pointed at a big old building nearby. ''Friend of mine bought a house in suburbs and will sell his apartment to me. I have a house but as I knew he needed some money and was too proud to borrow from em I just bought that place. I will sell it to you. You can pay it off in monthly instalments. Like that, you will own it in no time and instead of paying rent you just pay back a loan. Don't worry, I got it cheap and I wills how you the paperwork. Come down to me when you are done here. I will make contract today and then you can just transfer right away to the house.''
Maria looked at him in shock. Telling her such a thing made her heart knock faster. Owning something that is her own was her long life dream. She actually saved quite an amount of money, if the apartment is not expensive, maybe she can pay it right away.
But what he showed to her was very surprising...