Chapter 7

Skylar blinked back the sting of tears as she stared down at the floor of the taxi. She had always been a rage crier, an attritube that had always annoyed her, but something else was fueling the tears as well. Hurt? Were her feelings hurt? And why was she so angry? It was a business transaction and she had agreed to the terms, so why did it feel like she had been punched in the gut when he reminded her of that fact? 

"Ma'am, your stop," the taxi driver's voice snapped Skylar back to reality. "Oh. Thanks," she mumbled handing the driver cash and opening the door. "Keep the change," she added as she climbed out of the vehicle and stepped out onto the sidewalk. As the vehicle pulled away she stood on the sidewalk in front of her crappy apartment building, the brick faded and cracking and some of the windows broken. It was dingy, musty and broken down but it was cheap and they hadn't asked for a damage deposit so it was home for now.

Skylar looked down at her clothe