After a week of wandering.
Zara's body lay stretched out on the worn garden chair.
Her messy hair drifted across her thin features with the wind.
She had seen rejected job applications during the day and the cruelty of cold pavements at night.
Three children slowly approached from behind her.
They whispered among themselves:
This is going to be fun.
— Let's pull her hair!
— Why does she smell weird?
The first child, with blond hair and green eyes, stepped closer.
He lifted a cold water bottle above her forehead, trying to suppress his laughter, then—
SPLASHhh! … GAAASPP!!!
Zara's eyes snapped open.
She wiped her face aggressively and shouted:
"You little bas—!"
The children burst into laughter and ran.
One of them stopped, stuck out his tongue at her, and mocked:
"Pbbbttt! Get out of our garden, loser!"
Zara stomped her foot on the ground and sprinted after them, yelling:
"Come here!
This is a public garden, you brats!"
She had left her bag on the chair in her anger and kept chasing the three children, their screams rising the moment they realized she was close.
Zara reached out her hand.
Just as she was about to grab one of them by his shirt, she looked up and saw the other two returning with their parents, fear in their eyes:
"Mom!
This homeless woman is trying to hit us!"
Zara's eyes widened in panic.
She stopped right before touching the boy.
One of the fathers rushed toward her.
The moment Zara saw him, she turned sharply and ran at full speed.
She looked around and saw a massive oak tree fall into view ahead of her.
She turned back— the man was still chasing her.
She stopped directly behind the oak tree.
She held her breath.
Heavy footsteps approached, then slowly faded away.
Zara let out a tired sigh.
She lowered her gaze to the dry, brown leaves under her feet, the scent of damp grass and wood filling her nose.
She rested her head against the tree, exhausted.
She sank to the ground, pulled her knees to her chest, and murmured weakly:
"…Why me?"
She lowered her head slowly between her arms, closed her eyes, and took a long breath:
"...No home… no job…
I really can't do anything right."
She rested her chin on her knees.
She watched children walking with their parents, each of them holding someone's hand.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
Her eyes half-closed, she whispered:
"I miss those days."
She stretched her legs out.
The crunch of dry leaves mixed with the wind filled the ears of anyone nearby.
She leaned her head again against the tree, her eyes barely open.
Every time her head dropped, she lifted it in fear—
and after a few moments, it finally sank gently onto her arms.
Her chest rose and fell slowly, seconds turning into minutes, minutes into hours.
A cold breeze swept across the ground.
A brown leaf flew straight into her face.
"Hm?"
Zara opened her left eye with effort.
She looked up and saw the stars glittering in the night sky.
She rubbed her face wearily, yawned, stretched her arms, and mumbled:
"What time is it? … mmm whatever."
She stood up lazily.
She walked like a drunken person for minutes, swaying left and right.
She reached a small café.
She pushed the door slowly and glanced around.
Everyone was busy— no one was looking at her.
She hurried to an empty table, grabbed a half-eaten burger while looking around repeatedly, and whispered:
"This will be enough for today."
Zara rushed out of the café and sat on the sidewalk.
She examined the burger for a moment.
She tore off the bitten part and threw it toward a stray cat.
The cat's eyes sparkled with delighted surprise.
It lifted its head toward her, meowed softly, and began eating ravenously.
Zara smiled at the sight.
She looked at the burger again, tore half of it, threw it to the cat, and said:
"Are you… just— don't eat it too fast."
Two minutes later, Zara was taking the final bite.
She licked her fingers with relief and said to herself:
"Well… that wasn't bad… for now."
Her eyes lifted toward the house across the street.
Gabriel's head appeared in the window while he spoke, and Ethan was pouring himself a drink, laughing.
Zara sighed sharply at the sight.
She hugged her knees, rested her chin on them, and drifted into her memories.
After a moment, she remembered what Dr. Harris had said:
— He killed her!
How lifeless his eyes were, how rivers seemed to ignite in front of her at the mere mention of Gabriel's name.
The trial had already ended.
Dr. Harris had been sentenced to life in prison, and Zara had seen the news on the mall's TV screens three days ago.
Zara stood up, eyes wide, unblinking.
The scrape of her shoe against the ground echoed as she stepped toward the house.
Step. Step. Step.
With every step she took, her heart beat slower, but harder.
She crossed the street.
Stopped for a moment before the house, studying it with her eyes, and murmured:
"I've lost everything.
And this… is my last chance."
Just as she was about to step on the first stair, a gray car pulled up in front of the house, making her jump back in fear.
Ethan stuck his head out of the window, waving excitedly:
"Jack!
Get out of the car. Come on!"
Jack, the blond-haired driver, hurried out.
He opened the back door, and a bald, dark-skinned man with a face marked by deep wrinkles stepped out.
He brushed his hand across his black jacket to clear off dust.
He walked toward the front door with measured steps.
Before he could knock, Gabriel opened the door with a diplomatic smile:
"Daniel.
Please, come in and rest a little… before we leave with you."
Daniel shook his hand warmly and replied:
"Dr. Krauss. Nice seeing you again after the trial."
— "The pleasure is mine."
— "No, mine!
HA! Your planning made this easier than a child-support case, HAHAhh!"
Gabriel smiled faintly, stepped aside, and responded:
"What can I say… I don't like chances entering my life."
Daniel laughed loudly as he spoke with Gabriel and Ethan inside.
Zara had been hiding beside the house from the start.
She looked at the gray car for a moment in silence.
She shook her head violently, bit her lip hard, and whispered to herself:
"I've already lost everything.
Now… this is my only chance!"
She walked slowly.
She avoided the windows, the lights, until she reached the car.
Jack emerged from Ethan's house carrying a huge black bag, exhausted.
He opened the car trunk and grumbled as he tossed the bag in:
"I hate this job!"
The moment Zara saw the trunk open, her eyes widened in fear and excitement.
She slipped in quietly like a cat until she reached the car.
She placed her legs inside first, then the rest of her body.
Once inside, she closed the trunk and hid behind the black bag.
"This is insane…
But I don't have a choice."
Minutes later, Gabriel and Daniel, followed by Ethan and Jack, left the house.
The sound of the car doors slamming made her flinch.
Jack turned the keys with visible irritation as he glanced at Ethan with disgust.
The engine roared to life, and the car sped off.
In the back, Zara slipped her hand into her pocket, pulled out her battered phone from that week.
It showed 23% battery.
She frowned, opened the phone, bit her lip, and pressed the record button.