Out With a Bang

Rain dripped down Freya's nose as she stood under the bus shelter, phone pressed to her ear. She hadn't wanted to call anyone, but she had no other choice. She just needed a few dollars to take the bus to get home. Beyond her meager shelter, the rain continued to pour in a steady patter that would soak anyone unprotected in minutes.

As for her... her umbrella had been taken by Cloe. She'd left a note with hearts and a promise to return it tomorrow. Except Freya wasn't going to be there tomorrow. She adjusted her purse. She'd been in such a hurry to leave that she'd put it on first, then her coat on top of it. As a result, she'd had to open herself to the cold to get her phone out. Expecting to need in her purse before long, she'd not zipped it back up yet. Wind sprayed cold water against her front. Her hair was already soaked, her shirt was damp at the neckline, and now the front was starting to stick to her.

The line rang once again, and finally Rob answered. "What the heck do you want? Don't you know I'm in a stream?"

"I'm sorry," Freya said by reflex. "I just need some money..."

Rob predictably launched into curses.

Flinching, Freya lowered her head. Even though he wasn't there to see it, she curled in on herself. Asking this was too much. She'd already known.

"I can't believe you," Rob finished. "Begging me for money? You've got some nerve. You still haven't paid for the water. How much longer am I supposed to go without a shower? You're so useless, I don't even know why I keep you around."

"I'm sorry..." Freya whispered.

"I'm sorry!" he mocked in a whiny tone. "Is that all you can say for yourself?" he demanded. She could hear laughter. It had a tinny quality, which meant it was from his teammates on the match he'd been playing on his game.

"Please... I just need three dollars. I got fired," she admitted.

Rob's silence was louder than any cursing he could've done in that moment. "Fired?" he asked in a flat tone.

A crash resounded.

"Fired? You stupid twit!" he launched into more cursing.

Freya sank down to sit on the wet bench behind her. She felt nothing. Her body was hollow, his voice echoing in the empty corners of her heart.

"Why couldn't you just put up with it? You're always screwing things up! You said something, didn't you? You can't keep your mouth shut! You never know when to shut up!"

"I'm sorry..."

"There you go again, making excuses!" Rob shouted. "I've put up with a lot from you over the years. I'm kicking you out. Don't even bother coming back here."

"But..."

"Look in the dumpster for your trash. I'm done with you!" The line went dead.

Lowering the phone, Freya stared out into the rain. The dreary street was empty except for a few kids on the other side of the three-lane road. The kids had a big umbrella they were sharing as they stood under an awning, looking at something on their phones. Another young man was coming down the sidewalk toward her with his hood pulled up and hands in his pockets.

It would be another hour before the bus came. But she now had nowhere to take it to and no money to take it with.

Four years... and just like that, it was over.

She stared blankly ahead, mostly in the direction of the huge pothole that took up the turn lane. The water in it was muddy and of unknown depth.

Freya supposed it was her fault. He had every right to be mad. She was always in the way of his livestreams, constantly in the background making noise while she cooked in their tiny kitchen. She couldn't consistently pay the bills, so the power or internet would get cut. How could he possibly grow a following when every other month he couldn't play?

A flicker of anger ignited in her heart. The apartment was in her name. She was the only one on the lease. How could he kick her out? What did he expect was going to happen? She would leave and continue paying for a place she wasn't allowed in?

Her grip on her phone eased. She sighed as the anger died. "No use," she whispered. She couldn't fight him. No one would care. No one would take her side. She was a nuisance. She was at fault anyway. Worse yet, she had no job. So even if Freya managed to evict Rob, she would have to leave anyway. She didn't have money to pay for next month, even in part. Rob had taken what little she had to buy a new ring-light... that was still sitting in the box unopened.

Lowering her eyes to her hands, she squeezed them around her phone, tears finally beginning to prick her eyes. When was it ever going to be enough? She'd cut away everything about herself to be accommodating, but everyone hated her no matter what she did.

"Hey."

Startled, Freya looked up to find the young man in a rain slick standing in front of her. His knife glinted in the nearby streetlamp.

"Phone. Purse. Now."

She stared at him, speechless. "I'm sorry..." she automatically whispered. "I don't have anything..."

"I don't care," the boy shouted, suddenly slamming her back against the bench by her shoulder. The knife touched her chin. When he withdrew, she realized he'd taken her phone.

"What the heck is this trash?" he demanded, looking at the practically ancient tech. Turning, he chucked the phone across the road. It hit the pavement, skidded, and fell into the pothole. "Least you could do is have something decent!" he shouted.

"I'm sorry," Freya said, voice even smaller.

He shoved the knife in her face again. "Did I ask you?" he demanded. Grabbing the strap of her purse where it crossed her front, he pulled. Since it was beneath her coat, he only succeeded in yanking her forward into the knife he held at her face.

Terrified, Freya turned her head, feeling the sharp sting as the blade sliced into her cheek and against her ear.

"Give it!" he demanded impatiently as he realized it was under her coat. He switched his grip to yank her coat, trying to pull it over her head from the back. Staggering off the bench, she landed hard on her hands and knees. He successfully got the coat over her head. Only her arms held it in place. The kick to her stomach knocked her over, and with that, the coat slid off her thin arms. He, her coat, and purse splashed off down the sidewalk, leaving her curled on the pavement in the rain.

Gasping, Freya crawled to her hands and knees and looked down the road. Two teens across the street were giggling, filming the altercation.

Finally, the tears came. Freya stared at them until they got unnerved and jogged off, rain pattering off their umbrellas.

Rain soaked into her exposed clothes. Lifting her hand, she wiped at her cheek, coming away with blood. Bitterly, she grit her teeth. Joke was on that kid. The most valuable thing in her purse was the peppermint she'd stolen from the bowl at the bank and been saving for a rainy day.

Staggering to her feet, she crossed the street to the pothole. The road was desolate and quiet except for the increasing sheets of rain. Kneeling on the side where she thought her phone had fallen in, she reached into the icy cold, feeling along the three-inch deep bottom. She was sure it had landed in the pothole somewhere near the middle. Though she didn't know why she was bothering. It wasn't waterproof, and who would she call for help from?

She had no one and nothing.

If I could just...

Just when her fingers found her phone, light flickered across her as headlights came on.

Turning, she looked toward the oncoming vehicle she'd not noticed.

The box truck's high beams blinded her.