Chapter 1
Joey POV
This is not how I pictured my life. I graduated in the top ten percent of my class at Worthington University, one of the most prestigious schools in the nation. That was supposed to open up a whole world of opportunities. I was supposed to have a good job. Instead I ended up working at an editing company. Most people would say I'm lucky that I did work in my career field; however, I was just a file clerk. I had nothing to do with the editing and unfortunately I don't think I ever will. But I don't have to worry about staying in my job because they decided that my "services" were not needed. I live in a crappy apartment in a bad part of New York City and I'm a month late on my rent. My landlord said if I don't pay last and this month's rent by today I better be gone by tomorrow. Since I lost my job I don't even have enough money to eat tonight. But, I know what I did wrong. I didn't know the right people, didn't go to the right interviews and now it's too late no one is going to hire a person who has been working as a file clerk for five years as an editor.
This is what always goes through my head as I walk home from work with my small box that is all I have left from my desk. I stop to look at today's paper at a magazine stand along side the road. A magazine catches my eye. It has a relatively handsome man on the front the title says "Small town boy earns big bucks with restaurant chain." So they're going to rub it in my face too. I turn to continue walking to my apartment. Everyone's richer than me even this man.
I arrive at my apartment building a few minutes later to find my landlord out front. I have a feeling he's not going to let me off today even though I don't have the money. He's let me off three times this year.
"Do you have your rent?" He asks sternly.
"I'm so sorry, I don't …," I say when he interrupts me.
"Well I'm sorry too. I've let you off three times this year. I need my money. Have your things out by tomorrow," He says starting to walk away.
Following I continue, "Wait I'll get the money somehow." He just keeps walking as I carry on, "I have no where else to go."
It was the truth. I have a sister but she has a family of her own and she can't support me too. Now I have no job and no apartment. I decide to take a walk to try to figure out what I was going to do now.