Mia walked alone down the street, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, desperately trying to stave off the cold that pierced her. The torrential rain had soaked her to the bone, and her body betrayed her with uncontrollable shivers. Her teeth chattered despite her best efforts, the sound blending into the incessant hammering of the rain on the pavement.
She couldn't take it anymore. This had to stop. The thoughts from the past week swirled relentlessly in her mind, forcing themselves on her like a movie she couldn't pause.
She closed her eyes, but it didn't stop the flood of memories.
Mia:
"Please, just give me a little more time! I swear I'll pay you... I just had a setback, I..."
The landlord stared at her with disdain, arms crossed in front of the door.
Landlord:
"That's enough! I'm sick of hearing your excuses. You told me I'd have my money this week, but nothing! Not a penny! I want my money, or I want you out of my house."
Mia:
"But… I've always paid you. Wait! I even helped you with a loan when you… Why can't you just—"
The landlord cut her off brusquely, his voice rising.
Landlord:
"Why? What did you think, huh? That I'd pity you because you did me a small favor? This isn't a charity, girl. If you want handouts, go somewhere else! Everything I borrowed from you, I paid back, so you've got nothing to say. Get out! Pathetic girl."
With barely concealed anger, he shoved Mia, causing her to stumble. Heartbroken, Mia watched in tears as her belongings were thrown into the street.
---
She shook her head vigorously to chase away the memory, but as soon as she tried to forget that scene, another painful one took its place.
Customer:
"Incompetent fool! Were you trying to burn me by spilling that tea?"
Mia:
"I'm so sorry, sir. I'll clean it up right away..."
She quickly grabbed a towel to wipe the table, but the customer shoved her aside.
Customer:
"Don't touch me, you filthy germ! Who do you think you are, huh? You're nothing but a worthless nobody. And you dare lay eyes on someone like me?"
The restaurant manager arrived, alerted by the commotion.
Manager:
"What's going on here?"
Customer:
"What's going on? This trash tried to burn me with tea and then tried to touch me! It's outrageous."
The manager's eyes widened, anger taking over his expression.
Manager:
"Mia, is what this gentleman says true?"
Mia (in tears):
"No! It's… it's not true. I can explain everything. It was a misunderstanding, I—"
Customer:
"So now you're calling me a liar?" he thundered, his deep voice full of contempt.
Mia:
"No! No, I… I'm sorry..."
Manager:
"Don't worry, sir. She'll be punished severely for her actions."
Customer:
"I should hope so!" the man replied with a triumphant smirk before leaving.
In the manager's office, moments later, the verdict was final.
Manager:
"Mia, I don't want to see you here anymore. You're fired."
Mia:
"No… please! I have nowhere to go. No home... no place to sleep. I beg you, don't throw me out."
She fell to her knees, her hands clasped together in a desperate plea.
Manager:
"I don't care. You're just a bad omen. If I were you, I'd kill myself."
Rejected, alone, and hopeless, Mia had collapsed to her knees in that alley under the rain, tears streaming down her face. Memories of her family came flooding back, poignant and heart-wrenching.
She clutched her locket, now lying in the mud, and opened it. Inside was a picture of her family, all smiling.
Mia (whispering):
"If only I'd died that day..."
A tear slipped down and landed on the photo.
Suddenly, a blinding light erupted behind her. Mia turned, startled, but before she could understand what was happening, an invisible force threw her violently to the ground.
Pain surged through her body, and time seemed to slow. She noticed every raindrop falling on her face, a beauty she had never appreciated before.
Her eyes slowly closed, fading into darkness.
When she opened her eyes again, Mia found herself in a strange, desolate place. The ground was dry and cracked, heavy mists cloaking the horizon.
Only one question crossed her mind, one she whispered in fear:
"Where am I?"