I stayed on that rooftop for a long time.
At first I didn't dare move at all.
I lay as flat as I could behind the ventilation unit, my cheek pressed against the rough gravel of the roof while I carefully watched the street below.
Every car that passed made my heart jump.
Every voice made me hold my breath.
But hours passed, and nothing happened.
Eventually the panic faded into a dull tension sitting in my chest.
Slowly, I rolled onto my back and stared up at the sky again.
It was strange how the city still had stars, even if they were faint and half hidden by the glow of streetlights.
My stomach growled.
Right.
Food.
Carefully, I pulled my backpack closer and opened it, hoping I had remembered to throw something inside before everything went wrong.
My hand froze.
Inside the bag was a water bottle.
And a few protein bars.
I blinked.
"That wasn't me,"
I muttered quietly.
Then realization hit.
I let out a small breath and felt a smile slowly appear on my face.
"The lady from the diner…"
I whispered the words softly.
She must have slipped them into my bag while I was eating.
I opened the bottle and took a careful sip. The cool water felt amazing after hours of dry air and nerves.
Then I tore open one of the protein bars and took a big bite.
"I will come back and thank her one day,"
I mumbled with a full mouth.
For the first time since I ran away, something inside me felt… warm.
Someone had helped me.
For no reason at all.
Night eventually fell over the city.
The sky turned dark blue, and the streets filled with glowing lights from stores, cars, and streetlamps.
When I was sure things had calmed down, I carefully climbed down the fire escape again.
My feet touched the ground softly.
I looked left.
Then right.
No police.
Good.
I pulled my hood lower and started walking again.
I didn't know where I was going this time.
I just knew I couldn't stay still forever.
The protein bar had taken the edge off my hunger, but another problem was already creeping into my mind.
Money.
Sooner or later, I would need it.
That's when I saw it.
A small building with dim neon lights and music leaking softly from inside.
A bar.
Next to the door hung a crooked piece of paper.
I stepped closer and read it quietly.
"Night shift wanted. Daily payment. Fifteen dollars an hour… six hours per night."
My heart skipped.
That was more money than I had seen in weeks.
Then my eyes moved lower.
Very small text at the bottom of the paper.
"No questions asked."
I stared at it for a moment.
Then I pushed the door open.
The inside smelled like alcohol, wood polish, and old smoke.
Behind the counter stood a man cleaning a glass with a towel.
He didn't even look up at first.
I stepped closer.
"Good evening, sir,"
I said quietly.
"I would like to get the job you offered."
The man finally glanced up.
His eyes studied me for a few seconds.
My worn clothes. My thin frame.
The hood hiding most of my face.
But he didn't ask anything.
Just like the sign promised.
He placed the glass down.
"Change into work clothes,"
he muttered.
Then he nodded toward a door behind the counter.
"Keep your head down."
After that, he went back to cleaning the glass like the conversation was already over.
I didn't ask questions.
I simply nodded and walked to the back room.
Inside, I found a small locker with simple black work clothes and a cap.
I quickly changed and pulled the cap low over my face.
Far enough to hide my eyes.
My heterochromic eyes.
I hated them.
They made me easy to recognize.
Easy to remember.
Just another thing about me that 'he' always noticed.
I shoved the thought away and walked back out.
Without hesitation, I started working.
Cleaning tables.
Wiping the counter.
Collecting empty glasses.
Quiet.
Invisible.
Exactly how I wanted it.