Broken Pieces, L. S. [brene brown rising strong .txt] 📗

can get out of this place as soon as possible.

 

 

 

I stopped walking when I finally reach the beach, I am not afraid that Keith might look for me. He doesn’t own me; I didn’t sign any contract so I can leave whenever I want. I still hate the way things ended between me and Nicole. For a couple of days that we’ve been together I considered her as the only family I have but I just can’t believe that she will sell us. I knew it’s going to be hard for us; living in a new state where no one knows us, no one will help us but I had plans in my head, I had savings, I planned of us working together to be able to survive life. But I didn’t know that all along she had her own plan.

I sat on the sand, watching the sun to set, the red shadow of the sun on the water is soothing, and I hugged my knees as the cold wind blew to my direction. There were a couple of teenagers like me who are chasing each other on the water. Some are sitting on the sand like me, some are making out and some are starting building a bon fire. A sudden envy feeling grew inside my chest. I envy how normal life is to them. I was never a normal girl; I didn’t grow up in a normal environment, I lost my dad as early as I can even remember, my mom was blinded with her love for a man whose soul is evil. Sometimes I wished, I could be like these people that I can be a normal girl, a girl that can hang out with her friends, a girl who can date whoever she wants. But I know I am that girl and I will never be that girl.

Tears once again fell from eyes; I have never been so alone in my entire life. For the first time in a long time I felt lonely. I have always been alone, no friend, no family. But now that I finally don’t see mom or feel dad I feel like I am the only person left in this world.

“Dad. . .” I cried.

I don’t know where I am going after this, I don’t have a place to live, I can’t even check in a motel because my money is not going to be enough for the whole month.

This isn’t how I pictured myself; I was going to be a doctor, my entire life I have been dreaming of being on the medical field. I will be the resident doctor of St. Louis Medical Hospital, I will marry the director or maybe another doctor and we’ll have our own family. I never wanted to leave town, I didn’t even thought about it not until I was 13. Not until Dan took everything I hoped for, everything I wished for and everything I dreamed of. Now I am sitting here broke, jobless, homeless and clueless on how I will face the tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

“She’s alive”

.

 “No, she’s not!”

.

 “OMG she’s moving”

.

“Should we call the police?”

I was awakened with the small voices talking in high pitches on my brain. When I opened my eyes, a bunch of kids came after my sight.

“I told you she was alive”

Apparently, I fell asleep on the sand while thinking about what will happen to me and while crying about how misfortune I was. And apparently, these kids thought I was dead.

I sat on the sand and hugged my backpack; I didn’t realize that I was that pale for these kids to think that I was dead.

“Yes, I am alive” I told them

They smiled at me as they walked towards the beach. The sun is shining really bright that it’s going to be so nice to soak up in the water. I think its noon and as much as I want to swim all day I have a lot of things to do.

I stood up, took my jacket off and put my backpack on. I started walking my out of the beach. Since I don’t have anything right now, I should start looking for a job, although I don’t know how since I am an undergraduate high school senior without any experience or credentials.

My stomach rumbled when I sight a small diner outside the beach, then I remembered that the last time I ate was at Keith’s place.

I still have money to eat something so I went inside the diner to get some pancakes. If I will look for a job I should at least eat right?

I sat on the table near the window and a kind of away from the crowd. I am a complete stranger in this place so I don’t want to catch any kind of attention. Most of the people that were there were teenagers ready to take a swim. I looked around and I can see how life is simple here in this town.

“Can I get you something” the waitress that looks like my age came to me.

She was wearing a blue collared shirt, tattered short shorts, flip flops and a blue apron. Her blonde hair is tied up with a nice ponytail and her blue eye shadow is kind of disturbing.

“I’ll have some pancakes with bacon and coffee please” I said.

She smiled and wrote something on the notebook that she has.

“I’ll be right back”

I watched her walked back on the counter and passed the piece of paper she ripped from the note book to the guy peaking on the small hole or window. I believe that was the kitchen.

I patiently waited for my order to come; I am worried on how my day will turn out. Last night I didn’t know where to go, I sat on the sand for hours until I finally fell asleep on the beach. I don’t know if I can survive that kind of life.

After a couple of minutes my food was delivered by the same girl who took my order.

“Pancakes with bacon and coffee” she said as she put the plate down on the table. “Would there be anything else that I can get you?” she asked.

“I’m good thanks!” I answered.

She was about to leave my table.

“Wait!” I called.

“Yes?”

I took a deep breath.

“Is there any opening here? Maybe you need another waitress?” I asked.

She looked at the counter and smiled.

“Well an extra hand will be very helpful since summer is just around the corner but I am not the one to decide. . .” she said. “Do you see that big guy over there?” she pointed on the white haired fat guy sitting on the cashier. “That’s the owner so he is the best person to ask, but just to give an idea, he’s not very easy to deal with” she warned me.

I nod.

“Thanks! I’ll talk to him later”

“Welcome, by the way I’m Kate”

“Jillian”

“Nice to meet you Jillian”

“Same here”

She smiled and went to the other table to take orders.

My stomach was so happy when I was done eating my breakfast, now I can have my full focus on looking for a job. The owner of the diner is still sitting on the cashier as I made my way towards his direction. He is wearing a blue shirt like the one that Kate was wearing and all the other waitresses that were there and khaki pants. I was hesitant to approach him because he looks like he doesn’t smile at all. His hair is gray and some parts of his head don’t even have hair at all. His face is freckled and his gray eyes creeps the hell out of me. I took a deep breath as I stood in front of him but I shouldn’t let my fear take away the chance that I might get a job.

“Hi Sir” I greeted him trying to cheerful as possible “My name is Jillian and I was told by one of your waitress Kate that you are the owner of this place.” I introduced myself.

He looked at Kate’s direction.

“Did she mess up again?” he asked angrily not leaving his gaze to Kate.

I shook my head, I don’t want to get her in trouble since this man looks like he sees the worst in people but I am already here.

“No actually, I was here to see if you are interested in hiring me”

He looked at me from head to toe. I felt uncomfortable that he is studying me or something.

“Okay, you’re hired!” he said.

I cocked my brow, is he for real?

“Really?” I cannot really believe this.

He nods.

“Aren’t you going to ask me anything, where I came from, my background anything?” I asked.

He shook his head.

“Well you are pretty, and skinny so you’ll fit here, you’ll start today” he said “By the way, my employees here are stay in, Kate here’s your new roommate” then he turned to the cashier and counted the money there.

Kate brought me to the kitchen where there is a stairs to reach the second floor of the place. There I saw a living room, a dining area and a kitchen.

“That’s his room” Kate pointed a door on the hallway from the living area.

The she guided me to the stairs up to the third floor where the rooms are.

“Is he always like that?” I asked Kate.

She opened door at the end of the place, the room was just right for two people, it wasn’t huge and it wasn’t that small; there were two single beds on each side of the room and a wooden table in the middle of the beds. Each side has nightstands two doors closets

“What do you mean?” she asked back.

“He just hired me without even asking if I have experience” I told her.

She laughed.

“You obviously not from here” she said and I nodded. “Well, you will learn how it works here” she said.

I didn’t get what she said but I just nod.

“Here, I’ll let you borrow this, get dress and I’ll see you down stairs.” She handed me a shirt that looks like the one she is wearing a short shorts.

“Thanks! Is this really necessary that we wear this short?”

She nods.

“And FYI we have a very strict dress code here” then she left me.

It’s strange how easy I was able to get a job but I am just so happy because this is way better than the job Nicole signed me up to.

I dressed up quickly although I am really conscious wearing the short shorts cause I don’t remember wearing one in St. Louis before. As much as possible I don’t want anyone to see my skin, I have been conscious about it since Dan forced himself to me. But this time I have no choice, I need to do this for my job. I am lucky to be able to get one without being asked if I have the experience or not and I even got a place to stay so I don’t have any plans of ruining the best thing that happened to me so far.

After tying my hair up like Kate I went downstairs to start my new career; being a real waitress.

10:00 PM when we finally closed the diner. I feel so exhausted because I worked for an eleven hour shift. Kate taught me a lot of things from taking orders to delivering it to customers. She also taught me on how to prepare drinks, how to make coffee using the machine and so far I was able to remember everything. It doesn’t pay a lot but since I have free board and lodging I will still be able to save money to support myself.

The diner opens at 9 am; there are a total of 7 employees and we all work in shifting schedules. Normal shift is only for eight hours but overtime open for those who are interested. Opening shift is from 9am until 6 pm, then closing shift is from 12nn to 9 pm and we spend 1 hour of cleaning until 10pm. Ron the owner goes home at eight