Hungry, with a child in her arms, she decided to ask a stranger for money. What he handed her made the woman’s hair stand on end.
Listening to his whining was easier than thinking about what awaited her next. When the car started moving, she closed her eyes, trying to disconnect from reality for a moment. But then the baby fussed, letting out a quiet but demanding squeak.
Emma immediately opened her eyes and began rocking her daughter, muttering something comforting. The driver threw a quick glance at her in the mirror. «Tough being alone, huh?» he grumbled, not waiting for an answer.
Emma just nodded. She was tired of explaining and justifying herself to strangers. Her head buzzed with intrusive thoughts.
What would happen next? She had planned to return to the dorm, where she had temporary registration. But now, after the dorm supervisor Aunt Martha kicked her out, she was completely without a roof over her head. The taxi stopped at an old five-story building.
Emma asked the driver to wait a couple of minutes and went to the entrance. This was Ethan’s house. She stood at the massive door, wondering if she should buzz the intercom.
Maybe it’s humiliating. Maybe she should just turn around and leave. But she couldn’t afford such luxury…
Emma took a deep breath and pressed the button. A minute later, an irritated voice came from the speaker. Who is it? «It’s me, Emma,» she said quietly but confidently enough.
«What do you want?» The voice was cold as ice. «To talk.» «Please.»
«It’s important.» There was a long pause. Emma waited, as if it would plunge her into the abyss. Finally, Ethan grumbled. «Fine, come up.»
She went up to the fourth floor and knocked on the door. When Ethan opened it, he looked as if he had seen a ghost. Tired but still beautiful, with the child in her arms, she looked him straight in the eyes.
«What are you doing here?» he asked, not hiding his irritation. «We have nowhere to go,» answered Emma, feeling a lump rising in her throat. «You’re the father.»
Ethan just smirked. «That’s your problem, not mine.» «I told you right away I’m not ready for a kid.
And now excuse me, but I have things to do.» He tried to slam the door, but Emma managed to put her foot in the threshold. «Ethan, wait.
You can’t just turn away from us.» Her voice trembled, but she didn’t give up. «Listen to yourself.
I’m not obligated!» he shouted, and that ended their conversation. The door slammed shut with a bang, leaving Emma in the cold hallway. She stood there for a few seconds, trying to gather her thoughts.
Then she turned and slowly went down. Outside, it was already getting dark. Passersby hurried about their business, no one cared about her.
Emma sat on a bench by the entrance and buried her face in the baby bundle. «Mommy will figure something out,» she repeated in a whisper, as if this spell could fix everything. Emma sat on the bench, wrapped in her thoughts, while the night city gradually sank into silence.
Somewhere nearby, laughing teenagers passed, throwing a short but still appraising glance at her. The little girl quieted down, as if understanding that now wasn’t the time for whims. Emma kissed her on the forehead and stood up, realizing she couldn’t sit there long.
She wandered down the street, not knowing where she was heading. One thought echoed in her head—she needed to find shelter for the night. Ahead loomed a dark arch leading into a courtyard.
Emma turned there, feeling cornered. And suddenly noticed an open door to the basement. It was something.
No luxury, of course, but a roof over her head. Inside, it was damp and smelled of mold. On the floor lay scraps of newspapers, empty bottles, and some strange rags.
But in the corner stood an old couch. Worn and stained, but still better than asphalt. Emma carefully laid her daughter on the couch, spreading a clean diaper on top that she had taken from the hospital.
She sat nearby, hugging the child. Her heart pounded with fear, but fatigue took over. She closed her eyes, feeling sleep creeping in despite the anxiety.
She woke up to a sharp shout. «Hey, what are you doing lying here?» In front of her stood a man in his forties, in a dirty T-shirt and with a bright red face. Apparently, one of those who considered this basement his home.
«Sorry, I have nowhere to spend the night,» Emma answered quietly, trying not to wake her daughter. «Nowhere, you say?» he snorted. «There are ten like you here every day.
Get out of here, or I’ll call the police.» Emma realized it was dangerous to stay. She got up, took the child in her arms, and went out to the street.
The night was cool, and she, wrapping herself up, walked wherever her eyes led. «Maybe to the social center?» she thought, but immediately dismissed the idea. She was afraid they would take her child away.
She couldn’t allow that. She wandered along residential buildings until she noticed light in one window. Flowers stood on the windowsill, and behind the glass was the silhouette of an elderly man.
«Maybe they’ll help here?» the thought flashed. Emma gathered courage and knocked on the door. An elderly man with kind eyes opened it.
He looked at her attentively, then at the child. «What happened, girl?» he asked softly. Emma couldn’t hold back the tears…
She told him everything, from the very beginning to this terrible night. The man listened attentively, then said. «You know, someone once helped me too…