The bus ride home felt longer than usual, though the streets were mostly empty, save for the occasional passing car or the flicker of neon signs illuminating the darkened sidewalks. Roxie sat near the back, her head leaning against the window, watching the city blur by. Her thoughts were far from the bustling streets outside. Instead, they were consumed by Ryan's words, playing on an endless loop in her mind.
I think you've got something. I want to help you.
She had been holding onto those words all night, turning them over in her head, letting them fill her with cautious hope. But as the minutes ticked by, doubt began creeping in again, settling like a heavy weight in her chest.
What if he's just like all the others? What if it's all too good to be true?
She had been through this before, getting her hopes up, only to have them crushed when reality set in. The disappointment was always worse after the hope. It was easier to stay guarded, to protect herself from the possibility of failure. But at the same time, she couldn't help but wonder what if? What if Ryan really did see something in her? What if he could help her?
The bus rattled over a pothole, jolting her slightly. She sighed, sitting up straighter and pulling her phone from her bag. Ryan's card was still tucked safely inside her apron, but she had already saved his number on her phone. It would be so easy. One call, one simple decision, and things could change.
But what if it's another dead end? a voice whispered in the back of her mind.
Roxie stared at the phone in her hands, her thumb hovering over the screen. The temptation was so strong, but so was the fear. She wasn't sure if she could handle another rejection, especially not from someone who seemed so genuine, someone who made her feel like she actually mattered.
She shoved the phone back into her bag, trying to push the decision aside, at least for the moment. The exhaustion from her shift was creeping in, and all she wanted to do was crawl into bed and forget about the world for a while. She could make the call tomorrow, after a good night's sleep. Maybe then, things would seem clearer.
The bus came to a stop, and Roxie stepped off, the cool night air wrapping around her like a blanket. She walked the familiar streets back to her apartment, her footsteps slow, her body aching with the kind of fatigue that went beyond physical exhaustion. The sight of her building was both a relief and a reminder of just how far she still had to go.
Inside, the air was stale and heavy, the faint scent of cigarette smoke lingering in the hallway. Roxie trudged up the stairs, her mind still racing despite the weariness settling into her bones. She reached her door, fumbled with her keys, and stepped inside, the small apartment greeting her with its usual silence.
She dropped her bag onto the couch and headed straight for the kitchen, too tired to care about anything other than grabbing something quick to eat. She wasn't hungry, really, but it felt like the only thing she could control in that moment. Her hands moved mechanically, pouring a bowl of cereal and grabbing a spoon before plopping down at the small kitchen table.
As she ate, her eyes drifted to the window. The alley outside was quiet now, the group of homeless people she had seen earlier long gone, their scavenging over for the night. Roxie stared at the empty dumpster, her chest tightening with the realization of how close she had come to being in their shoes.
She couldn't let herself end up like that. She wouldn't.
The thought lit a fire in her, and before she even knew what she was doing, she was back on her feet, grabbing her phone again. She hesitated for a moment, standing in the middle of her small kitchen, the phone warm in her hand.
What if it's a mistake? What if he doesn't remember you?
But then she thought of the diner, of the endless shifts and rude customers, of the constant struggle to stay afloat. And she thought of the people in the alley, of what her life could become if she didn't take a chance.
Roxie took a deep breath, her fingers trembling slightly as she pulled up Ryan's number. She hesitated for a moment longer, her heart pounding in her chest, but then, before she could talk herself out of it, she pressed the call button.
The phone rang once... twice... and then she heard his voice on the other end.
"Hello?"
Her throat went dry for a second, and she almost hung up right then, but she forced herself to speak.
"Ryan? It's Roxanne... from the other day?"
There was a brief pause, and for a heart-stopping second, she thought maybe he didn't remember her. But then his voice softened, and she could practically hear the smile in his words.
"Roxanne! Of course I remember you. I was just thinking about you, actually."
Roxie blinked, surprised by the ease in his voice. "You were?"
"Yeah," Ryan said, his tone casual but warm. "I've been meaning to reach out. I think I've got something lined up that would be perfect for you. If you're still interested, that is."
Roxie's heart skipped a beat, the mixture of excitement and disbelief surging through her. "Really?"
"Absolutely," Ryan replied, his voice confident. "It's a small gig, but it's exactly the kind of thing that'll get you noticed. We can meet up later this week, and I'll give you all the details."
For a moment, Roxie couldn't speak, the reality of the situation slowly sinking in. This was it. This was the opportunity she had been waiting for. After all the rejections, all the setbacks, someone was finally offering her a chance. And not just anyone, Ryan, the agent who seemed to actually believe in her.
"I'd love that," Roxie finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you, Ryan. I... I really appreciate it."
Ryan chuckled softly. "No need to thank me yet. Let's get you in front of the right people first. How about we grab coffee tomorrow morning? We can talk more about it then."
Roxie nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "Yeah, that sounds great. I'll be there."
"Perfect. I'll text you the details. Looking forward to it, Roxanne."
"Me too," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Goodnight, Ryan."
"Goodnight."
As the call ended, Roxie let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Her heart was still racing, but it was a different kind of adrenaline now. She had made the call. She had taken the chance.
She laid back on the bed and beamed up at the ceiling, her mind swirling with endless possibilities. But one thought stuck out to her, he had been thinking about her. She immediately shook her head and scoffed at the thought of anything deeper. There was no way a guy like that was into her. He was just being polite.
Then she thought about the possibility that he was being genuine and had a real opportunity for her. What was it? A commercial? An indie film? God it couldn't be anything bigger, right?
As she closed her eyes she began to dream of a better life. The one she had always wanted.
And for the first time in a long time, it felt like things were finally starting to move in the right direction.