Two

I had a rough day. Seemingly happy I helped all customers with a friendly smile, but I felt like crying. Just before work, I went through the freezing cold to visit my mother. I had to ask her for a favour again. The coffee house in which I have been working since I was 18, was in deep financial trouble, but I could simply not quit the job: I would probably not be able to find a new one, and, the shop had been such an important part of my life that I could never voluntarily throw that away. The owner, Jessica, told me yesterday that the wages would be somewhat later than usual (as usual). I haven’t had any salary for three months now, but it would be too hard on me to make a fuzz over. This is why I had to ask my mother if she could borrow me some money for another month, and this is why I felt tears burning in my eyes the whole day. She told me she had difficulties to pay her own bills at the moment, due to the crisis. I felt I could not make life any harder for her at this moment, so I decided not to ask her for anything. I went to work, was nice to everyone, and tried to come up with a solution.

When I was finally home at half past 9, I lay down on my couch to watch TV, hoping some kind of solution would offer itself via the flashing screen. I fell asleep and dreamt of people in uniforms coming to my door and kicking me out of the house, without giving me time to pack my stuff. I started awake and decided that this time I would have to ask David to do something for me one last time. I had asked so much of him already, but he was my best shot at the moment. It was getting quite late already, but I decided that I would see if his lights were still on and then just ask him. When I got to his building, I was just in time to see him walk away from the window. I went to the 3^rd floor, knocked on his door and waited.