Chapter 9

Amy

I bit my lip, trying to hold back my emotions as I looked around my tiny apartment. This had been my home for the last few years, and it held memories of both joy and sorrow. I squealed like a crazy school girl when I landed my teaching job in the kitchen. I cried on the floor when the doctor told me that my mother would need to go away to a hospice or hospital situation, as she needed constant care. This is the place where I have cried and smiled and picked myself up more than I like to admit.

Currently, as I placed the last of my essentials into my bag, I couldn’t deny the emotional weight of leaving this place behind. I was almost fully packed, ready to move into Mr. Crawford’s home. My salary would cover the rent here as well as my mother’s medical bills, so I decided to keep this apartment as a safe haven.

However, I still needed to pay this month’s rent, and I was short on funds. So, I made my way to Mr. Howard’s condo, my landlord. I tapped his door knocker. Mr. Howard, my l