Need You Now

Chapter 1: A Brief Introduction

Hushed curses escaped my lips while I hiked the stairs to the top floor of this shitty six story building. What kind of hotel doesn't have a working elevator? A really old, rundown, piece of crap hotel managed by a cigarette wielding vile old bitch. The trip was made even more difficult since I had to carry a large caddy full of cleaning supplies. At least each floor had a closet with brooms, mops, and vacuums. Apparently it was just too expensive to keep each floor stocked with any other supplies. That or my boss, Mrs. Elaine Charlie, was a bat from hell who hated me. 

Probably both were true. 

I had been working for Mrs. Charlie as a nightshift maid for a year now, and I still wasn't used to the demands it required of my body. Now that I was five months pregnant, my body was even less tolerant of my job. Unfortunately, I couldn't afford to quit considering I barely made enough for me to survive in this city. 

Now, I had a whole other life I was responsible for.

Once I reached the top of the stairs, finally at my destination, I paused for a moment to catch my breath. I placed my hand briefly on my growing stomach, smiling at the small flutter that I recognized as my little girl's movement. My belly was made more obvious with the damned work uniform I had to wear. It consisted of black slacks and a fitted black t-shirt with the hotel's logo stitched above my right breast. 

I had already gone up a size, knowing that soon I would need to go up another. Usually my baby bump was undetectable, especially since I preferred to wear baggy clothing. My body was almost uncomfortably thin, aside from my belly; living in poverty with a lack of resources for most of your life would do that to a person. 

It's unfortunate that my income disqualified me for food stamps and most aid programs, but still barely covered my bills.

I was taller than average for a female, at 5 feet 10 inches. It made me look ridiculous recently. I felt like slender man, but pregnant. I avoided looking in my mirror most days. I inherited none of my mom's Hispanic curves and beauty, and all of my fathers Russian features. 

Except I wasn't a Russian beauty or ballerina. 

After catching my breath, I began my nightly tasks. Each shift I would start on the sixth floor and work my way down. That way by the time my shift was completed, and I was dead on my feet, I wouldn't have to be walking up or down stairs; I would already be on the bottom floor.

The night passed slowly, only a few rooms on each floor needing to be cleaned. Eight hours later my shift ended at 4AM, and my swollen feet were begging for me to get off of them. I clocked out, glad that I didn't have to see Mrs. Charlie, and made my way to the parking lot. 

The summer air was humid with early morning dew. 

Driving my second-hand sedan through the dark streets, I blasted my radio to make sure I didn't fall asleep. My apartment was a ten minute drive from the hotel, but it felt like forever when I was half-dead. Once I parked my car, and made it into the rundown apartment complex, I was relieved that our elevator worked. I took it to the fourth floor, groggily shuffling my way to apartment 413.

I closed my door, making sure to lock all three bolts, and the chain lock on my door. Yes, four total. You couldn't be too careful in this neighborhood. 

I kicked my shoes off and threw my purse on the small table I had besides the door. Bypassing my ratty couch in the TV-less room, I entered my tiny kitchen and grabbed a cold glass of milk. I took my prenatal vitamins, that have been costing me an arm and a leg, before wandering down my short hallway to my bedroom. I hadn't bothered to turn any lights on, very familiar with the small home, and desperate to save as much as I could on my bills. A quick stop in the restroom, and one change of clothes later, I was face down in my bed too warm to cover with sheets. My poor baby was being smooshed, so I shifted onto my side, already feeling sweat bead above my lip.

Air conditioning was a privilege I couldn't afford right now. 

Within minutes my sore body happily numbed and I slipped into the sweet relief of sleep.