Kira (boyxboy)

Chapter 6

(A/N: Our poor baby continues to suffer) 

I wake up to the sunlight streaming through the balcony window. The early morning orange glow makes me jolt up from my bed. I have to get breakfast ready for Rowan and take her to school! I look around and realize my surroundings are unfamiliar and disorienting. This isn't my attic room. It takes me a second and all the memories come flooding back. That's right. I don't have a home anymore...

For some reason I don't even feel upset. I feel...nothing. Everything is just numb and cold, it almost feels like it didn't happen to me. I'm just a spectator watching the movie that my life has become. I decide to get out of bed anyways and figure out what I'm going to do with my day. I need to start making money right away. I can't depend on the meager savings I have scraped together for long. I need to head to a cafe and get wifi, there's no other way for now I don't have anything set up in the apartment. Maybe I should go shopping first?

I head to the kitchen and take a slice of bread from the few things I actually bought from the convenience store yesterday. It'll tide me over until I get out to some cafe or restaurant. I take a quick shower and clean up. Pulling on a fresh pair of jeans and a hoodie I grab my laptop and wallet that contains everything important to me. I open the wallet and the first thing I see is a picture of Rowan and I posing at a theme park. The fresh smiles and joy seems so out of reach and unfamiliar. I pull the picture out and squeeze it so hard that my knuckles turn white. I debate whether I should throw it away but I ultimately put it back into the wallet carefully, making sure not to damage it.

I cast out all unnecessary thoughts from my mind and resolutely exit the apartment. I end up shopping first. I buy a wireless router, some more furniture and a fridge. I give my address for delivery and leave the store. I head straight to the nearest cafe for lunch and wifi. I order a sandwich and a latte and find a corner seat away from any prying eyes. My laptop is open in front of me but I stare out the window. I watch the flood of people walking down the street. I can't help but wonder what they're thinking about. Are they living happy lives? Are any of them alone like me? There are men in suits practically running down the street, probably late for some important meeting. I see women holding bulky shopping bags trying to flag down a taxi. I see a family dragging their two children away from a toy shop. The kids are bawling their eyes out and throwing a tantrum, probably didn't get the toys they wanted. So much life outside the cafe, what about me? Will it be my turn soon to be walking down that street with a smile on my face heading towards some bright future?

That Disney movie song keeps playing in my mind. When will my life begin?

I shake my head and pull myself back together. I look down at my screen and start to play the stocks. It's been a pretty good day for making money and I can see the numbers in my bank account rising. By the time I finish up the sun is already hanging low in the horizon. I pack up my belongings and head back to my apartment. The evening has gotten chilly so I pull my hoodie tight around me.

The closer I get to my seedy neighborhood the faster I walk. For some reason I feel uneasy as if something is about happen. I notice a couple of teenagers walking behind me but something feels off about them. I start to pick up the pace but they start to speed up towards me as well. I break out into a sprint but I've barely gone a 100 metres before they catch up to me. One of the guys presses against my side and I feel something sharp against my side. I start to panic and look around for help but the streets have gotten pretty empty. I look down and see that the guy has a knife pressed up against me.

The guys voice sounds menacing as he says, "Walk. Don't try anything funny. Follow him." He points at another guy who has taken the lead. I take a few breaths to calm myself and quietly follow behind the dude in front of me. I am very clear about my situation. I've taken gymnastics when I was younger but I don't know how to fight. These guys look pretty tough and are clearly experienced in fighting. There's no way I can beat them so the best thing to do is just do whatever they say and hopefully I'll live through this experience.

They lead me into a secluded alley and roughly push me up against a wall.

"Take out all of your money and anything expensive you have on you. Try anything and you won't like the consequences."

They snatch my laptop bag and search me. They pull out my wallet and slip it into the laptop bag. One of the guys looks me up and down as if contemplating on whether I have anything of value left.

"Hey, take off your shoes and hoodie. I want it."

I reluctantly take my shoes off and unzip my hoodie. I hand them over with a docile attitude, without any resistance. Yeah my stuff is important but my life is more important. The guy snatches the stuff out of my hands and smirks at me. I can't make out their features clearly in the shadowy alley but I can hear the malicious pleasure in their tone. I'm afraid. So afraid. My hands start trembling and my teeth start chattering. My back is drenched from sweat and goosebumps run up my arms. The guys just laugh at my reaction and throw me to the ground. They kick me a couple times and take off into the night.

I only feel relief as I get to my feet and brush the dirt off my pants. Luckily they left me my house keys so I won't be locked out. I trudge back to my apartment in exhaustion and defeat. Walking into the apartment I head straight to the bed and collapse.

They took everything. I only just start to come to terms with the magnitude of what I've lost. They took my laptop, phone and wallet...which means I've lost my laptop, charger, phone, money, credit card, ID card and bus card. I don't have a way to access the bank without my ID and I can't go to the ATM without my card. I can't play the stocks without my electronics or contact anyone. I won't have any money for rent, food, electricity or any other living expenses. I've only paid for the apartment for a month.

What do I do now? How can I live? I squeeze my eyes tight as my head pounds in a severe headache. I feel like I'm suffocating and try to drag in some air. Tears start to trickle down my face and I feel so helpless. Did I make the wrong decision coming here? Am I destined to never live a good life? What did I do to deserve this? Various thoughts swirl through my mind until I finally fall asleep.