The morning was colder than it had been in a long time, autumn was around the corner. I stared out my window in attempt to distract myself from the pending assignment I had sitting on the screen of my desktop computer. I looked slowly around my small, filthy apartment where I had been living for the past three years—the sad part is that it was in better shape than most of the other places around here.

I was pulled from my trance when the phone began to ring. Annoyed at this, I let the machine pick it up; the phone was always an invention I despised.

"Kayleeeee! You really need to start picking the phone up! I'm so sick of your stupid answering machine. Oh well, I just wanted to let you know that Yuffie is coming into town tomorrow and I know that you love seeing her; so I wanted to know if you would come over and pop in for a quick hello. Take a break off of work and your training and just relax for once! Okay, I'll catch you later!" the line clicked as Odette's voice left the vicinity. I just stared at the machine because she really could be quite annoying sometimes.

"Odette how are you always happy when so much has happened?" I thought to myself. She knew almost everything about me except for one thing that I could never tell anyone; I didn't like to think about it, sometimes I liked to feel that it never even happened. If Yuffie ever found out, it would probably cost me my life.

I stood up and grabbed my magnum revolver and walked over to the wall. Since I was trapped in such a tiny living space, I built a small secret into the wall. I smacked the spackled area three times until the wall flipped open and revealed a small flight of stairs—that was the benefit of having an apartment on the lower floor. I carried myself down the tin stairs until I reached the training ground.

"Alright let's see if we've improved since last time Angeline." I said to myself as I cradled my gun. I've had Angeline since I could remember and in that long amount of time, I had become an ace gun-man. It was sad to think about, but in reality, my gun was my best friend.

I grabbed it and started running at the stationary targets first until every last one was blown away and moved back into the wall from whence it came. I wasn't breathing hard yet, so I decided to up the training level to a level three. This time targets came out from everywhere and if I missed the shot, the target would shoot a plank of wood from a tube attached to the arm. Being agile, I dodged every time until one hit me square in the side and I was thrown down to the ground with a groan. At this point I was breathing heavy and sweating profusely. Slightly frustrated, I walked back up the stairs and closed off the training ground.

Seeing that yet another message was left on the answering machine, I pressed the replay button and listened.

"Ms. Lorain, I am calling from Jen Beto in regards to the meeting you had with your boss the other day. He wants to see you in his office right away tomorrow morning as soon as you come in. It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you." And the line went dead.

"Stupid automated voice messages." I muttered angrily to myself. I was just so miserable lately, it was disgusting. Between my job, my training, and my damn conscience, I was going to be dead before I reached the age of twenty two. It would be a miracle if I could ever find someone to understand and help me with what I was going through, but it was impossible because I was hiding so much. I sniffed the air and grimaced, I stank. I stood and laughed to myself because I had sweat all the way through my pants and onto the stained love seat I had been sitting on. A shower was necessary; this was going to be a long night.

I awoke the next morning and remembered that I needed to go to work early to meet my boss. I prayed that this meeting was meant to be in my favor, I really couldn't afford to lose my job right now. I was barely getting by as it was. I threw on my business outfit and walked out the door to my small black scooter. Yes, I was that poor to the point where I couldn't even afford a car. After a lengthy commute, I pulled into the parking lot and locked the scooter up as best as I could since I didn't have a lock and chain. I sighed and approached the building. Before going in, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath; fixed the mess I called hair, and put on my brightest smile. I walked up to my desk, logged onto my computer, and began my descent up to the "boss's lair".
When I reached the top, I knocked lightly on the door and was let in by his secretary. She motioned for me to take a seat and wait patiently for him to return from the bathroom. I clicked my teeth together and crossed my legs nervously. I heard him enter and my face immediately turned bright red from nerves and I shook his hand before he ushered me into my seat again. He folded his hands on his desk and looked me up and down.

"Ms. Lorain, I know you've been coming to work and doing what you're told to do, but you're always showing up late and customers have been leaving us because of your unpleasant attitude. Now I know it's none of my business, but whatever's bothering you, you've got to let it go sometime soon or else it's your job." I stared him right in the eye until he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"I've worked here for almost five years and I'm barely making enough money to get by on rent; don't you think there's something wrong with that? I'd like to keep my job and everything but I need a raise and if I can't get one, then I don't know what to tell you." He just looked me in the face with his mouth slightly agape. Would he listen to me? I was always outgoing with him and he always seemed like a good guy to me, so what would be wrong with him now?

"Kaylee I can't give you a raise, I'm sorry. We just don't have it in the budget right now, and we need those customers. I don't need you to sell your soul to me or anything, just be a little happier. If you can't do that, then sorry but I'm going to have to let you go." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. After all the years of hard work, it's just going to go down the drain. I really needed that raise, and if he wasn't going to give it to me, then I couldn't stay here any longer.

"In that case sir, I'll be happy to let you know that you won't have to let me go." I replied sadly.

"Well, that's wonderful Kaylee thank-"

"Because I'm quitting. I'll find another job that can give me the money I need. Until then, wish me the best of luck, sir." I shook his hand once more and gave him a final nod before taking my leave. I logged off of my computer and cleared off the one picture I had perched on my desk.

"Well that was an easy clean up…" I said to myself with humor. I nodded to the woman at the front desk whose name I didn't even know—she was new. As I walked out those double doors, I felt empowered for the first time in a long time. I smiled inwardly at the idea that I lead my own life and no one else could stop me. My small victory was soon demolished when a realization hit me hard in the face—how was I going to afford to live?