Chapter 5 – A New Game Begins

The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual. The house was still quiet, the sun barely peeking through my small window.

I stretched, rolling my shoulders.

Today, I start moving differently.

I wasn’t going to sit around and let them dictate my life anymore. If I wanted change, I had to make it happen.

Pulling on a simple dress, I tied my hair back and stepped out of my room. The air smelled like breakfast—probably Cassandra’s favorite waffles. I ignored the pang of hunger in my stomach and headed straight for the front door.

I needed a job.

I needed freedom.

Just as I reached for the doorknob, a sharp voice stopped me.

“And where do you think you’re going?”

I turned to see my mother standing by the kitchen, arms crossed. Cassandra and Marcus were sitting at the dining table, both watching with curiosity.

I met my mother’s gaze without hesitation. “Out.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line. “Out where?”

“Looking for work.”

A beat of silence. Then Marcus let out a short laugh. “You? Working?” He leaned back in his chair. “Doing what? Crying in a corner until someone takes pity on you?”

Cassandra giggled. “She’s probably going to embarrass herself.”

I ignored them, keeping my eyes on my mother.

She studied me carefully, her expression unreadable. “And why do you suddenly want to work?”

“Because I don’t want to depend on this family for anything,” I answered honestly.

Her eyebrow twitched.

Marcus and Cassandra looked shocked for a second, as if they couldn’t believe I had the nerve to say that.

Then my mother scoffed. “Fine. Go ahead.” She waved her hand dismissively. “But don’t come crawling back when you fail.”

I smirked. “I won’t.”

With that, I turned and stepped out the door, the morning air filling my lungs.

I didn’t know where this path would lead me yet.

But one thing was certain.

I was never looking back.

The streets were already alive with activity as I walked through town. Vendors were setting up their stalls, workers rushed to their jobs, and the smell of freshly baked bread filled the air.

I clutched the few coins I had in my pocket—barely enough for a cheap meal. It was humiliating how little I had, but that was going to change.

My first stop was a small café near the town center. The warm aroma of coffee drifted through the air as I stepped inside. The place was cozy, with wooden tables and shelves lined with books.

A woman in her mid-thirties stood behind the counter, wiping a glass. She looked up as I approached. “Can I help you?”

I took a breath. “Are you hiring?”

She gave me a once-over, her brows slightly raised. “Do you have any experience?”

“No,” I admitted. “But I’m willing to learn.”

She pursed her lips, thinking. “We could use an extra pair of hands, but we don’t have time to train someone from scratch.”

My heart sank a little, but I refused to give up. “I’ll work for free for a week. If I learn fast enough, you can decide if you want to keep me.”

The woman’s eyes narrowed. She wasn’t expecting that.

For a long moment, she said nothing. Then, finally, she sighed. “Fine. You start tomorrow. Six in the morning, no excuses.”

Relief flooded through me. “Thank you.”

She nodded. “What’s your name?”

I hesitated for a second before answering. “Clarisse.”

Saying it still felt strange, but this was my reality now.

And this was just the first step toward something greater.

The following morning, I woke up early, nerves and excitement swirling inside me. It was still dark outside, and the house was silent, everyone still asleep. I quickly got dressed in the simplest clothes I had and slipped out of my room.

The cool morning air greeted me as I stepped outside. The streetlights were still glowing softly, casting long shadows on the pavement. I glanced back at the house, the place that had always felt so suffocating, but now, it looked distant—almost insignificant.

I had a purpose now.

I walked briskly toward the café, my footsteps echoing in the quiet streets. It was still too early for most people, but I couldn’t afford to waste time. This was my chance to prove to myself, and to everyone who doubted me, that I was capable of more than they could ever imagine.

The café was already open when I arrived, the door swinging open with a bell chiming above it. The woman from yesterday, Maria, was behind the counter, a mug of coffee in hand. She raised an eyebrow as she saw me enter.

“On time,” she said, looking impressed. “Didn’t expect that.”

I gave her a small, determined smile. “I don’t like to be late.”

She chuckled. “Well, let’s see if you can handle the work. First task: sweep the floor. After that, I’ll show you the ropes.”

I nodded, rolling up my sleeves and getting to work. The café wasn’t very big, but it had a cozy charm. Sweeping the floor wasn’t hard, and as I moved through the small space, I couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of pride.

For the first time in a long while, I wasn’t just existing. I was doing something for myself.

Maria showed me the basics of how to serve customers and prepare drinks, explaining things quickly but patiently. I was nervous at first, but the more I practiced, the more comfortable I became.

By the time the lunch rush came in, I was serving drinks and taking orders with more confidence. It wasn’t perfect, but I was learning fast.

The day passed in a blur of activity, and by the time my shift was over, I was exhausted but satisfied. I had earned my first paycheck, and it felt like the start of something bigger.

As I walked back home, the weight on my shoulders seemed lighter. I still had a long way to go, but this was a victory, no matter how small.

And for the first time in forever, I felt like I was finally in control of my own life.

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