Marianna had sunk into life on solid ground. Her savings taking a hit as she put down a deposit on an apartment near the cafe.
Gas City
, she never thought she would work there, but she needed a job. She thought about driving off. She considered going all the way west, but something just kept her here. If you asked her she would never say it, but those
eggs
helped, and a help wanted sign. She wanted to learn how to cook, just like her mom. It's still hard though at work. Mostly just washing dishes, the water would soak through her apron, and then her work pants. At first it would be warm, the wash water was always so hot. But as she walked home, the winter air would give her a chill. All the 20 minute walk, her teeth would chatter, and she could see her breath. Every step though she thought about how much money she was saving by not driving. So she was a bit happy. Sometimes when she was close enough she would run inside. Slam the door on the cold, and blow dry her clothes and herself. At the end of each shift she got in the habit of calling Keith. She liked hearing his voice, it made her feel like she still had a home she could go back too.
Abraham Kim