The car that hit Mina sped off without a second thought, its tires screeching as it disappeared into the distance. Mina lay on the cold, unforgiving pavement, pain spreading through her body like wildfire. She could barely process the shock, but everything felt distant, like she was underwater.
Before she could make sense of it, a stranger appeared. They didn't say a word, just scooped her up and carried her to the nearest hospital, their hurried footsteps echoing in the chaos of the moment. Mina didn't even get a good look at the person before they disappeared, leaving her alone in the sterile, white room of the hospital.
The nurse was kind enough to bandage her wounds and tend to her injuries, but as she prepared to get up and leave, the cold reality hit her like a slap to the face.
"You'll need to pay for the treatment," the nurse said, her tone clipped but polite.
Mina's heart sank. She barely had enough money to eat . How was she supposed to pay for this? The thought made her feel small, insignificant.
She blinked, trying to gather her thoughts. Why did they help me? she wondered, her mind swirling in confusion. They could've just left me there, let me die on the street like I was nothing. Why bother?
Mina sat up on the hospital bed, her hands trembling. The nurse handed her a small slip of paper with the amount she owed. It felt like a mountain, a weight she could never carry.
The hospital walls seemed to close in on her. She needed to leave, to disappear, but there was no escape. The world didn't stop for the poor, not for the ones left in the shadows. No one cared if she was hurting. No one cared if she was struggling to survive.
And now, she had a bill to pay. How could she do it? The thought of asking for help—any kind of help—felt foreign. There was no one to turn to.
How will I ever get out of this mess?
Tears welled in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away, refusing to let herself break down. She had no choice but to fight. Just like she had always fought.
As she sat there, feeling the weight of her reality pressing down on her, she made a silent promise. She would survive. No matter what.
Mina, feeling the weight of the hospital bill hanging over her like a dark cloud, approached the nurse with shaky hands. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Can I use the phone? I need to call my workplace."
The nurse hesitated, but then relented, handing her the hospital phone. Mina held the receiver close, feeling the cold plastic against her ear as she dialed the number of her delivery station. She didn't know if anyone would answer, but she had to try. She needed help—she couldn't face this alone.
It rang.
And rang.
Finally, someone picked up.
"Hello?" came a voice that barely sounded like it cared.
"Hello, it's me, Mina. I'm in the hospital. I got injured, and I need help." She tried to steady her voice, but the fear and pain made it hard to sound confident.
Before she could say another word, the voice on the other end cut her off.
"You're fired," the words hit her like a punch to the gut. "That's all you need to know."
Mina's vision blurred, her head spinning. Fired? The word echoed in her mind, over and over. Her body felt numb, as if the entire world had stopped.
The line went dead.
Beeep.
The phone went silent. Mina sat there, frozen, as the reality of what had just happened crashed down on her. Fired. She was fired. Not only was she injured, but now she had nothing.
Tears blurred her vision, but she wiped them away quickly. She couldn't cry. Not now. Not when she needed help more than ever.
"Please, I'll repay you somehow, just... help me," Mina whispered to the nurse, her voice breaking. "Please."
The nurse sighed, looking at her with a mix of pity and resignation. "Alright," she said softly. "I'll pay for you. You already look broken enough. It's the least I can do. You can leave now."
Mina's heart twisted with gratitude. She didn't have the strength to argue or refuse. She simply nodded, pulling herself up from the hospital bed. Her head was bandaged, and she felt fragile, like she might break at any moment.
With the nurse's help, she left the sterile white walls of the hospital and made her way back to their small shack. The familiar smell of dampness and decay hit her as she walked inside, the rickety floor creaking beneath her feet. She barely made it inside before Lysa rushed toward her, her face pale with shock.
"What happened?" Lysa exclaimed, her eyes wide with fear as she looked at Mina's bandaged head. "Who did this to you?"
Mina's lips trembled. She had no strength left to keep up the facade. "I got into an accident," she said quietly. "And… and I was fired, Lysa." The words choked her up, and before she could say more, she let out a wail of frustration and pain.
Lysa's face contorted with rage. "Fired? After everything you've done?" Her voice was sharp, full of anger. "And the person who hit you didn't even turn back? They just left you there?"
Mina nodded weakly, the tears finally breaking free. "No, they didn't."
Lysa clenched her fists, her expression filled with fury. "I just hate people, Mina. They're all so wicked. They don't care about us."
Mina could barely speak through her sobs, but Lysa's words seemed to give her a strange sense of comfort. "I bought soup for you, Mina," Lysa said softly. "I got lucky today. I went down the street to beg. You work all the time, so I thought maybe I could do this for you. Just this once."
Mina's heart clenched at the thought of her sister begging for scraps. She reached out, pulling Lysa into a tight hug. "Lysa, don't you ever go begging again," she whispered, her voice rough with emotion. "I'm capable. I'll do anything to make sure we don't have to live like this anymore. I promise."
---—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xiraya sat back in her chair, looking every bit the powerful woman she was. Her fingers drummed lightly against the armrest as Saira paced angrily in front of her.
"You knocked a human down and sped off!" Saira shouted, her voice full of fury. "You did nothing! That is heartless!"
Xiraya remained calm, her gaze unwavering. "I'm sure she's fine now," she replied coolly. "Let me be, Saira. I found a rogue. He's at the club. We're going there tonight. Understood?"
Saira's angry breath hitched, but she reluctantly nodded. "Alright," she muttered, but there was a clear tension in her voice.
Xiraya didn't seem to notice—or didn't care. She was already focused on what lay ahead. There were bigger things to worry about than a random accident.
——---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mina stood outside, the cold air hitting her skin as she undressed quickly. She was used to it by now—the way the wind bit into her skin, the dirt and grime of the city sticking to her body. There was no bathroom, no privacy. Just the open air, the shadows of the crumbling city, and the old house that barely kept them safe.
She splashed cold water from a plastic container onto her face, wincing as it stung the fresh bandages on her head. It was the best she could do. A quick wash, nothing more. She didn't have time to waste. The world didn't wait for people like her, and she couldn't afford to.
Once she finished, she dressed in her tattered clothes—the same ones she always wore. There was no choice but to keep going. She couldn't stay still. Not now. Not when everything felt like it was slipping through her fingers.
Mina glanced back at the shack, at Lysa still sleeping inside.
Mina didn't know where she was going. She didn't know what she was looking for. But she had to find something—anything. For her, for Lysa.
She walked into the city, blending into the crowd of strangers, her heart pounding with uncertainty. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew one thing—she'd find a way to survive.
She'd find a way to make things better for them.
And she'd know when she found it.