August, 26th

I worked like a little bee. My aunt suggested that I take at least a couple of days off, but I refused - I needed money, I really wanted to buy new things by the beginning of the school year. Like any girl, I loved beautiful things. I had both dresses and skirts in my wardrobe, but I felt uncomfortable in them, I considered jeans to be my second skin. Yes, and I got used to such a rhythm, at my last place of work I took only one day off a week, and then only if there were a lot of tasks.

The cafe was located in a fairly passable place, on the most beautiful alley. There was a city beach nearby, and in the evening the revenue was on top, but during the day we mostly sat idle, rare guests broke the silence. I didn’t like to just chill, so I helped my aunt with other things: cleaning, warehouse work. A good amount was collected for the change.

Alexander no longer made itself felt, and on the one hand I was glad of this, glad that my life was returning a little to its usual course, but on the other hand, I could not stop thinking about him, every night I had the same dream - his emerald eyes. I thought I did the right thing by not taking the money. I helped him not because of some selfish purpose, and such an attitude on his part offended.

I wanted to completely forget him, so I deleted the number that evening. This is a dangerous person, he shows his superiority, his status with all his appearance, and I am sure that even a maid would not have taken me to his house, which I generally dream of. I buried myself in the pillow, sleep did not go, now I hated myself for thinking about him. I'm sure he has long forgotten about my existence.

Mom's screams made Masha and I jump up and run out into the kitchen. Mom thrashed her father with a rag, sprinkling him with selective obscenities.

─ What's going on! - Masha was in no hurry to help her father, she simply leaned against the wall and folded her arms across her chest.

─ Enough! You saw the time, the neighbors will call the police now. Stop it! - I stood between them, a couple of times my mother hit me - another minus of mine, I definitely need to collect all the troubles.

─ Beast, I hate you, creature, but why can't you stop! Why can't you just think with your head, - Mom splashed herself cognac. ─ Come on, Andrei, tell your daughters, make them happy again!

I understood that we would not hear anything good now.

- How much? Just tell me how much this time? - Masha looked at her parents with some contempt, and I understand her, but parents are not chosen, they still raised us.

─ I'm sorry, I was sure that I would win, it just didn't work - I don't even remember when gambling was added to alcohol addiction.

- How much? - I was ready to strangle him with my own hands, now it seemed the only possible way out.

─ Eight hundred thousand. But I will work, I promise, I have a few months to do it.

From what I heard, I stopped breathing - I just could not believe that he had lost such a huge sum, considering that we were broke, and there was even nothing to pledge. Masha looked no better, her eyes blazing with anger. I am sure that our desires are now similar.

─ Is that all you tell them? Bastard! - Mom switched to screaming again, but will that change anything? ─ Do you want to tell them what he promised to do with them if you don't return the money?

- Dad? - this is something new, never before had his creditors promised to do something with us, usually they limited themselves to injuring the father, and sometimes the mother got it.

─ I said I would take care of everything! Damn.” He sat down on a chair and covered his face with his hands. ─ I promised to let you go around, if you know what I mean. And if I do not agree to this, then he will send you to the panel.

─ What? What you said? - Masha began to shake, and I had to climb in again and stand between my father and sister, now the girl did not scream, she rather hissed at him. I don’t know how to describe the feelings that I experienced - fear, disgust, nausea - everything merged into one.

─ You're joking, aren't you?

The man just shook his head. But I just could not digest this information, I did not believe that he had put us in such danger. I saw tears in my sister's eyes. There was silence in the room.

─ Who is he? - it's too late to panic, everything has already been done, now you need to try to fix everything.

─ I don't know exactly, a local businessman, an old bastard. Forgive me, folks. I'll fix it, I promise.” Father didn't dare to raise his eyes. ─ I'm sure he cheated, bitch, I'm sure! The sound of hitting the table made him cringe.

─ Mom, can we borrow from Lyuda?

The woman just shook her head.

- No, and so they took money for Masha's studies.

─ We should try to get a loan. I tried to offer at least something while the others were snotty.

Why is there always some kind of problem? I just want to live in peace, not survive and fight for my life. As soon as I got rid of one problem, another appeared!

─ Are you stupid?! You do not understand that we will not collect this money with all our desire. Why don't they take you, daddy? The sister exploded. ─ I'm not going to answer for your sins, I'm not going to!

I could no longer be in this apartment, as if I didn’t have enough air, I felt like I was in a cage. Leaving them yelling at each other, I put on a sweatshirt and ran out into the street, let them at least kill each other, I don't care, I'm tired of answering for everyone, tired!I ran out in slippers and sleeping shorts - I can imagine the expression on the faces of passers-by. There was a slight breeze outside, I took a deep breath of air, trying to hold back my tears, but it didn't help much. It was pretty quiet today, so I settled down on the playground, sitting on a swing, and let my emotions run wild. Tears rolled down her cheeks in large drops, burning her skin, her hands were shaking. Now I once again realized my condition, realized how pathetic I was. I didn’t know what to do, where to get money, who to turn to for help, but I knew for sure that I would not give up, this situation would not break me, I had already experienced a lot, I could cope with this!

I sat on the landing for probably a couple of hours, the fear of becoming stiff from the cold awakened a sense of self-preservation, and I wandered home. There was complete silence in the apartment, and now it was somehow oppressive.

─ Les, I'm scared, ─ my sister's voice frightened me.

─ Me too, but we will get out, we will definitely get out, because this is not the first time, ─ I did not believe in these words, but I did not want to show weakness, but not to her!

─ I know how we can make money. You're not so bad - touch up, dress up, and you can breed suckers. Together we can raise good money, and at least buy ourselves back, ─ her voice trembled, but she continued. ─ I see no other way to raise so much money.

My sister suggested that I spread my legs in front of rich men.

─ What is the way out? I couldn't help but laugh out loud. ─ What is it, what is the outcome of events the same, I am not ready to give the body to an owl so easily, especially for money.

─ Idiot! Fuck you all, why should I even think about someone, I'll save myself and I don't give a fuck what he will do to you!

─ Who would doubt...