The Golden Rule 2: The One That Got Away

Shutters

Ari stirred in her sleep when she heard the loud pounding on her door.

What time was it? She thought wearily and grabbed the yellow plastic clock on her nightstand.

Seeing the time, she quickly sat up thinking that she was late for school only to realize a minute after that it was a Saturday. She has no classes and she swapped schedules at work.

The pounding on her door persisted. Forcing herself out of bed, she trudgingly walked to the front door of her one bedroom apartment.

The pounding became stronger as Ari walked past the living room. Pausing for a moment, she peeked through the peephole to see who it was.

Sighing, she opened the door and came face to face with an old man whose face was turning a dark shade of red.

" Mr. Rudolfe, " Ari said calmly. " Good morning. "

" It would indeed be a good morning if you can finally pay me your due rents, Ms. Montgomery, " Mr. Rudolfe clenched his jaw as he glared at her.

" I don't have the money yet, Mr. Rud-, " Ari began.

" It's been five months! " Ari's landlord cut in angrily. " You only paid the first month's rent and you never paid anything anymore. This isn't a charitable house. I'm paying for upkeep, water, electricity. I cannot wait any longer! "

" Please sir, it's just been really rough, " Ari said wearily. " The money that I make in the cafe and my other jobs are not paying enough. I'm really trying to raise the-"

" I don't want to hear anymore! " The older man thundered. " You have two weeks until the end of the month, if you cannot settle your outstanding dues, then I will be forced to let you vacate this apartment. "

" Mr. Rudolfe, please give me more time, " Ari looked at the old man pleadingly. " I cannot raise that amount in two weeks. "

" Then you'd better start looking for another home, Ms. Montgomery, " he said in an icy voice as he abruptly turn and walked out the building's front entrance.

Ari sighed wearily as she closed her apartment door. Leaning against it, she closed her eyes and stood there for awhile.

Tired of thinking of ways to solve her rent issues, Ari dragged herself back to bed. She saw the bottle of Valium by her bedside and quickly downed a tablet with water.

She forced her eyes closed and shut off her mind. Sleep always gives her a break from reality.

It was nine in the evening when Ari woke up again. She didn't get out of bed. Even when she heard her stomach growling, she stayed in there. She waited for an hour for sleep to hit her again.

Her alarm clock woke her up the following day. She still felt lightheaded as an after effect of the medicine that she took. And for a minute, she was tempted not to go to her classes.

Her morning in school went uneventful. And by the time classes ended at four, she immediately rushed to the bus station to catch her ride to work.

When she finally took her seat inside the public vehicle, Ari realized she was a bundle of nerves.

She dreaded going to work today. If she had a choice, she would have called in sick for a week, or until she managed to sort her jumbled enotions.

Admittedly, the encounter with Marco unnerved her and she didn't want to see him again if she can help it.

A blast from her past was not what she needed right now.

What she needed was money to pay for rent; A degree so she can finally get a full time decent paying job. And maybe more part-time work so she can survive until she graduates.