Broke

I pull onto the freeway and start my journey to Los Angeles. Shit, I need an oil change soon. I like this car but it’s got more problems than I’d like to admit. I need a new one but I can’t afford it quite yet. My dad financially drained me after financially draining himself. I’ve bailed him out of jail twice for possession of drugs, bought gift cards to grocery stores because I’ve made the mistake of giving him actual cash one too many times just for him to blow it on cocaine. That was his usual drug of choice, until it turned into the harder stuff a year ago, not to mention I paid for rehab facilities and a cheap apartment in a bad area for him about thirty minutes from my apartment because he refused to move in with me. I worked hard at Ricks Restaurant waiting tables for the last several years just to stay afloat. I offered to take additional shifts when I can barely stay on my feet for a moment longer but it’s what needed to be done. The tips were good, especially later in the evening when the men would have one too many and blow their money on the “sexy brunette with the cool eyes” as they’d say. I’m sure they’ve said worse behind my back. It’s definitely not what I went to college for but I needed to put my career on hold to stay near my dad. After he died, I stayed the extra two months because I couldn’t afford to break the lease. I have 37 days until I get to start over with a new job in a new apartment that I’ve been saving every penny for. Since I have a gap between my lease ending and my new one beginning, Stephanie offered me to stay with her in the meantime.

I pull off the freeway to fill up on gas and get a text from steph asking where I am. Oops it’s 12:13 and I was supposed to be there thirteen minutes ago. I text her back

Me: Getting gas. Don’t hate me im running behind. I should be there in about an hour.

Steph: I hate you Emily Hill.

Me: Oh Stephanie taylor you are so dramatic…

I finish up at the gas station and head back on the road.