Many Changes
**Rachel**
This was only my second day of work at the hotel, and before the restaurant's opening, the manager assigned me to help as a housekeeper. I had to perform tasks I never imagined I would do, including cleaning bathrooms. At one point, I had to isolate myself in one of the bathrooms and broke down in tears. The idea of running away from it all crossed my mind, as I didn't know how I could endure seven more days of doing all that and still keep my sanity. However, I found that what prevented me from running away was a powerful feeling that dominated me and led me to make various mistakes: cowardice.
Yes, I am a big coward, afraid of facing retaliation or being scorned by my circle of friends if the hateful manager calls the police. There was also the fear of spending hours at a police station and even more fear of staying there since I couldn't afford a lawyer and wasn't sure if anyone would be willing to do it for me.
When night came and I was sent to the restaurant's kitchen, I was exhausted and hopeless that things would get better. When Lindsay spoke to me cheerfully, I tried to smile in response to her greeting, although it was a difficult task, considering everything that was happening to me.
"Did you find your key?" Lindsay asked.
Which key was she talking about? I couldn't remember at all and had to admit it, asking what she meant.
"What key?" I asked, but soon realized my mistake and corrected myself. "Oh, my key! No, I couldn't find it. I made up a story about forgetting the key in my suitcase, which was at the hotel."
“Wouldn't it be better to try to solve this?” Lindsay wasn't buying my story anymore “I don't understand how you can stay away from your apartment just because of a key. If it were me, I would have found a way to get in by now.”
Lindsay is a very naive and trusting girl. This became evident when she accepted a ride from her friends at the hotel without realizing they were planning an orgy. However, my story was too far-fetched.
"Come on, everyone!" The chef called our attention. "We need to move forward as much as possible because customers will arrive soon, and we can't waste time."
After that call, we couldn't talk anymore, which I considered a blessing. As much as Lindsay had been of great help by allowing me to sleep at her house the previous night, I didn't feel comfortable sharing the truth about what was happening. At least not at that moment.
Probably, I would have to reveal the truth at some point, especially because I planned to ask again to sleep at her place tonight, which was a small one-room apartment with a bathroom. I used to think the apartment Sarah and I rented after being kicked out of our home was terrible and small, but now, after seeing Lindsay's place, I realized there were even smaller places where people managed to live with few amenities and still be happy, like she was.
Lindsay and I talked a lot before going to bed, something I rarely did because I always had more interesting distractions. However, at her house, without a TV and my phone, my only option was to talk. Sleep took a while to come due to my physical and mental discomfort.
For the first time in my life - I was experiencing several firsts in the last few days - I genuinely liked someone who couldn't offer me the things I valued in my friendships. And it wasn't just because Lindsay was helping me with a place to sleep. I liked her, but I was ashamed to tell her how tumultuous my life was at the moment.
I continued working, and when the restaurant finally opened and the movement became similar to the night before, I was almost begging for a way out, any way out. I desperately needed someone to get me out of there immediately. However, my silent pleas went unanswered, and I had to work until the end of the shift, already anticipating another night where I would depend on Lindsay's kindness.
Fortunately, today we wouldn't face the same nightmare as the night before. I didn't want to meet my siblings again and be rejected by all of them. I hadn't yet overcome what happened, especially the moment when Sarah made it clear that she didn't care about me or what was happening in my life. It was painful, but I acknowledged that it was largely deserved.
If the saying was true, then was I reaping what I had sown?
"Shall we take the subway?" Lindsay asked after changing our uniforms for jeans and T-shirts.
"Yes," I agreed as we walked through the parking lot.
I had to set aside my pride and confess to Ryan that I was out of money and couldn't even afford the round-trip transportation from the hotel. I even thought he might offer help, pick me up, or invite me to stay in his apartment, considering my desperate situation. However, none of that happened, which surprised me.
"I could spend a few days with you, Ryan," I still tried to be clearer about my wish.
"I don't think it's a good idea, Rachel," he replied without hesitation. "The last time you were in my apartment, you tried to sleep with me. Or did you forget about that?"
Of course, I didn't remember that incident, but I also thought he was being too harsh on me.
"I didn't know we were siblings, Ryan!" I argued.
He stared at me. We were standing in front of the run-down building where Lindsay lived, and he looked at the girl in the passenger seat of his car with a worried expression, as if afraid she might explode at any moment.
"I can't, Rachel," he said. "But if you want a few bucks for the subway, I can give you some."
"A few bucks!?"
"You said you have no money."
In the end, I accepted the offer because it was better than nothing. I realized how far I had fallen, accepting a few bucks from someone like Ryan. Lost in my thoughts, reminiscing about the previous night and the unexpected encounter with my siblings, I walked with Lindsay toward the subway station, unaware of a man leaning against a car, arms crossed, watching our steps until he spoke, catching our attention.
"Rachel!"
I looked in the direction of the voice and was extremely surprised to see that it was Enrico.
"He's talking to you, Rachel," said Lindsay, making me stop, as I hadn't done so myself, so shocked was I by the encounter.
I stared at Enrico and wondered why he was there and, more importantly, what he wanted from me. That was the question I asked him.
"We need to talk," was his response. "I'll drop you off at your friend's house."
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