"All my life, I've been taking two steps forward and three steps backwards ~Korisa"

Leah

Present day..
   I stood behind the counter humming the song that was playing on my earphones and most importantly, counting my month's salary. My savings weren't even coming close to an average college fees. I was only entitled to my dad's money next year and I needed to get an apartment for my mom and I. Maybe I should give up on college, it'll save costs.

   I felt a tap on my shoulder and I jolted back to reality. Removing my earphones, I noticed the mild chatter in the eatery and I sighed, almost closing time.

   "It's complete, right?" Winny, my boss, asked referring to the money I counted.

   "Oh right" I replied remembering she was waiting for me, "it is" I replied before thanking her.

    "After those customers, you are done for the day" Winny said before walking back to the inner room. I put the money in my back pocket and headed to my last customers.

   "What can I get you guys?" I asked in a  bored tone. The boys looked in my direction before looking at each other.

   "I'll get a..." The brunette spoke but he was cut off almost immediately.

   "Can I get your number?" Another boy asked rubbing his shaved head with his hand.

   "You don't even have a phone" a paler one retorted.

   "Doesn't mean that..." I put my earphones back on and walked back to the counter. I was going through my phone, looking at cheaper apartments that are far from here when I heard a loud noise. I almost dropped my phone as I saw the hairless boy to be exact putting out fire that apparently caught on the table cloth.

   Winny rushed out and saw the disaster. She just rubbed her forehead and you can clearly see her age writen all over her face. She was pretty old but stress made her look older.

    "Use the door boys" she just said and they mumbled out apologies as they left. One thing caught my eye. The brunette among the boys stood in a corner of the eatery, his hands shaking wildly as he stared at the half burnt table cloth.

    One of the boys came back inside and tugged the boy's hand snapping him out of whatever state he was in and they left, weird.

****
   I walked through the door I have grown to hate for the past six years. Why haven't we left? That's the same question I've been asking my mom but I learnt to live with no response. Which is why I'm taking it upon myself to find an apartment.

    Gus sat on the living room couch counting a pretty large amount of money. It was probably part of his gambling money so I decided to keep my head low and go to my room .

   "I'm glad I allowed you two into my house" Gus said and I concluded he was either high or he has finally lost it. "At least I can renew my membership in the game house. Thank your mother for me" he added and I stopped in my tracks. The savings...

  I ran to my room and saw it in a mess. I went straight to my bed and found it torn open, exactly at the spot where my entire savings were. I dialed my mom's number and she picked at first ring.

   "Mom?" I said and she sniffed.

   "I'm sorry baby. He threatened to .." she started but I didn't want to hear the usual excuse so I hung up.

   "Gus! Give that back!!" I yelled and he groaned walking out of the door.

    "Fuck off!" He replied.

   I couldn't just watch my suffering go to waste at a betting center. I ran in front of him and tried to stop him but he tossed me aside. I grabbed his arm from behind and drew him backwards but this time, he punched me right in my face. I winced in pain and lost my balance. The next thing I knew was that I hit my head on the porch step and all I saw was black.

~Korisa.