Chapter 6 Everything Slipped Away

KIARA'S POV

I look at him nervously. My heart is pounding violently, as if every heartbeat is demanding an answer from me. He stares back at me with anger, hatred, and pride clearly visible in his eyes. Suddenly, he shouts in a harsh voice, "Is this the kind of manners you taught your daughter? Stealing other people's lunch and eating it herself?"

His voice echoes through the entire office. It feels as if everyone's eyes turn toward me and my child at the same time, piercing straight through us. I immediately look at Ria. She stands there silently, completely still. She hasn't said a word, hasn't done anything wrong. But her big, innocent eyes are filled with tears, ready to spill at any moment.

A sharp pain rises in my chest, so deep that it becomes hard to breathe. Perhaps the hardest thing in this world is for a mother to see her little child in this condition hungry, scared, and believing she has done something wrong.

I know it, I feel it every second Ria is hungry. She only drank milk this morning. Yesterday too, she barely ate anything. Her tiny stomach must be aching with hunger, yet she isn't crying, she isn't complaining she just stands there quietly.

I look at her helplessly. Inside my mind, a voice echoes, "Oh God if only I had money. If only I could fill my child's stomach."

Anger rises within me at myself, "Shame on a mother like me who can't even feed her own little child."

Suddenly, a harsh voice reaches my ears, "Why are you standing there silently now?"

I flinch, He steps forward arrogantly and says, "You were so confident when you said you could take care of your child on your own. Where did all that confidence go now?"

I stand there with my head lowered. I have no words left to speak. Tears threaten to fall, but I force myself to hold them back.

His anger intensifies as he snaps, "I don't need a single ill-mannered employee in my office. So you, you are fired from today. This company has no need for you. Get out."

It feels as if the ground slips away from beneath my feet, I stand there, stunned, My voice trembles as I plead through sobs, "No sir please... forgive her. She's just a child. It was a mistake. It won't happen again please."

But he doesn't let me finish, He shouts even louder, "Get out of here right now! Or I'll call security and have you thrown out."

I fall silent. I lower my head, I lift my tiny Ria into my arms. She looks at that man once with her big, confused eyes, as if trying to understand what her mistake was. My heart shatters even more.

The entire office stands watching. Everyone is staring. No one says a word, I don't look at anyone. Without turning back, I step into the lift. In the mirror-like surface of the lift doors, I see my reflection exhausted, broken.

When I reach downstairs, I pick up my bag and walk out of the office building, Today, the one support I had in my life, The one means by which I was surviving my job is taken away from me.

I stand on the road with Ria in my arms, while tears silently keep flowing from my eyes.

I walk back toward my house, my steps slow, my body is already tired. Little Ria is asleep in my arms, her small weight resting against my chest, her tiny breaths warm and steady. The moment I reach the gate, my heart drops.

A big lock hangs on the door. I stop dead. For a second, I think I’m mistaken. I blink, look again but it’s real. My house is locked. My grip tightens around Ria as confusion and fear crash into me together. Then I see him.

My landlord is standing there, arms crossed, anger written clearly on his face. His eyes bore into me, sharp and unforgiving. I look at him helplessly, “S-sir… this?” I ask, my voice trembling.

He doesn’t soften. Not even a little. “First pay the rent,” he snaps. “Two months’ rent. Only then can you stay in this house.”

My throat tightens. Tears fill my eyes instantly. I shift Ria higher against my chest and step closer, my voice breaking as I plead, “Please, sir… give me a few more days. I beg you.”

He shakes his head harshly. “I’ve already given you plenty of time. You won’t get any more. Bring the money and live here otherwise take your daughter and get out.”

Before I can react, he pushes me. I lose my balance and fall to the ground, pain shooting through my body. Ria stirs in my arms, startled. I hold her tightly, shielding her, my whole body curling around her protectively.

The landlord turns away and walks off without looking back. I sit there on the ground, shaking, pressing Ria to my chest, tears streaming down my face. She clutches my clothes with her tiny fingers, unaware of the world’s cruelty. And then the sky opens up. Rain begins to pour heavily, soaking us within seconds.

I stand up slowly, my legs weak, my clothes drenched. Holding Ria’s small hand in mine, I step onto the road. I keep walking. I don’t know where I’m going. I don’t know how long I’ve been walking but two days have passed. Hunger, exhaustion, and grief blur together.

My vision starts to dim. Everything around me turns hazy, spinning. My steps falter. My legs tremble. Ahead of me, a car comes rushing toward us at high speed. I see it, but I don’t have the strength to move. I don’t even have the strength to be afraid anymore. The car screeches to a halt right in front of me. I gasp.

Fear flashes through me for a split second and then my body gives up. Darkness floods my vision as I collapse onto the road, hitting the ground hard. Just before everything fades completely, a soft, last distant sound reaches my ears, “Mum-ma.”

TO BE COUNTINUE...!!!

Will I be able to work while taking care of my daughter, or am I going to be stuck like this forever?