I pulled my coat tightly around me as I walked out of my apartment building and into the morning cold. I was definitely not adjusting well to London weather but I just had to suck it up and get to work. The hour long walk to my minimum wage waitressing job wasn’t exactly ideal, but then again my whole life just hasn’t turned out ideal.
I had a future once. A good one too but sometimes life just has this way of screwing you over. I had potential, I really did, but I threw all of that away without a second thought. I was paying for it now but this is the life I chose to have and I accepted that.
I’ve been in London for about four months now and I still felt completely out of place here. The complexion of my skin was usually the first thing people noticed about me. People assumed I was some kind of model sporting some fake tan and salon-made highlights but in reality it’s just from many, many years out in the sun at the place I once called home. I didn’t want to think about that now though.
I kept my arms wrapped around myself tightly as I felt the cold wind cut through me like a knife. I walked faster, wishing desperately I could just get to work faster. Being able to take a cab would be so fantastic but I needed to save every bit of money I made. I was already struggling to survive on what I’ve got along with keeping my shitty apartment so I’d at least have a roof over my head.
After what felt like an eternity of freezing half to death I finally made it to the little restaurant I worked at. It wasn’t the best thing in the world but at least I had a job which is more than what a lot of people have nowadays.
“Hey Elena!” Haylie yelled from the other side of the room.
Haylie was a girl about my age who was also a waitress. She’s been working here a bit longer than be and for some reason she was always so cheerful. I think she was trying her best to be a friend to me and, although I appreciated her kindness, I just knew she’d regret wanting to get to know me later on.
“Morning,” I said quickly as I rushed to the back to take off my jacket.
I tied my long hair back so that it was out of the way and quickly joined Haylie in setting up for the day. Most of the waitresses here only worked half days since they were mostly part time workers. I, however, worked every single shift I could possibly get so I knew I’d be here at least until nine o’clock tonight. Gotta love twelve hour days.
“I don’t know how you do it, Elena,” Haylie said as she helped me put out silverware.
“Do what?” I asked.
“It just seems like you’re here all the time. I can barely stand the six hours I do work and yet you do twelve almost every day like it’s nothing,” she said.
I just shrugged at her. I didn’t flaunt the fact that I was struggling simply because I didn’t want other people’s sympathy. I just passed it off as something to do for me which wasn’t exactly a lie. My twelve hour shifts plus the hour walk to and from work left me so exhausted I didn’t have time for anything else, which is how I liked it. It left less time for my mind to wander.
The day continued like it always does. People came and went throughout the day and I was settled into my routine. Before I knew it, it was an hour before closing time. The restaurant was pretty much empty except for one couple who had just walked in.
I walked over to their table and plastered my usual fake smile across my face as I asked for their orders. The guy was fairly good looking, though not enough to make me look twice. I glanced over at the woman sitting across from him and I immediately noticed how gorgeous she was. She had straight, shoulder length dark hair and the most amazing green eyes. Definitely gorgeous enough to make me look twice.
