Emulsion

third chapter

*it will always be Jovanna's point of view unless otherwise specified

Jovanna's work place ^

I didn't have a lot of classes today, just two short ones in the morning. Professors who didn't care, students who didn't care- it was pretty easy to be invisible. I didn't have that big, charismatic personality that would get me noticed anyway.

Still, the crowds and sometimes scrutinizing stares gave me anxiety. I never had time or felt that it was important get the whole "college experience". The priority was always to get out as fast as I can once classes are done, get to work, and be there for Adam.

I didn't have time to mingle or ask people how they were and how their dog was because that was irrelevant, and very frankly, I don't care.

Having so much responsibilities has kind of turned me into a no bullshit kind of person, apart from the things related to Adam of course. When you had bills to pay and a house to maintain by yourself, you couldn't care less about which latest $200 you need to blow your money on next.

I would always feel the need to constantly be doing something productive. Productive as in making some money to be able to feed myself, studying and paying attention so I could get a good job in the future.

Out of everything, I cherished the memories of my golden childhood the most. When I was oblivious to the problems and difficulties around me, because ignorance truly is bliss.

But that is also my biggest regret. How Adam had to face the cold hard truth all of a sudden, and have that state of oblivion taken away from him. How instead of asking for the toys he wanted like any normal child, he wouldn't ask for anything at all to make it easier for me.

He was very mature for his age, but I'm sure any kid would be after what he has gone through. Learning at a very young age not to take things for granted, I'm sure his perspective is much different than that of others. That being said, this perspective leads to different opinions, which leads to conflicts and bullying from other children.

I worry for him. Maybe it would be easier if I put him in Foster Care or gave him up for adoption. That way, a family that can actually afford the expenses of a child can take care of him and raise him, as I was sure he would come back to me when he was older. But then I couldn't do that. I couldn't just leave him like the other half of our family left us, I couldn't put him through it again. And I loved him too much to do that, he was my only family left.
Now, as I made my way through the streets of downtown Toronto, I realized that lately, dad and Blake had been on my mind a lot. I usually never thought about them this much, but lately, every little thing had been reminding me of them. Frowning, I wondered why.

I soon found myself arriving at my place of work, Tim Hortons. I hated to have the classic waitress job, but it was easy to get hired and I needed the money. At least it had a modern twist to it, I worked at the Drive-Thru.

Walking in, I headed straight towards the back to get changed into my uniform, sending small smiles to my fellow employees.

As I opened my bag and took out my uniform, I checked the time on my wrist watch. I was 15 minutes late. Shit. Katherine was going to have my head, this was the second time this week that I had been late.

Turning around, I made my way to the washroom. After getting changed and putting on an apron, I walked out and towards the Drive-Thru window. I was on cashier duty today.

I got started right away, smiling, giving people their orders, giving them their change, more smiling, telling them to have a nice day. Nothing out of the ordinary. Until my shift was ending.