ONE

4AM, Jeanne kicked the thick blanket off her and Groaned, The loud alarm that rang through the room had woken her, It irritated her, but she also made no effort to turn it off. Rather, Jeanne Sat up, placed put hands on her sides and cursed out, “Damn!”,It was yet another long day again and she had no choice but to live through it.

She Forced the alarm shut by hitting It harshly, It was quiet now, And the fear from the Early hour rush crept through her skin. It shouldn’t, she thought, She was used to waking up so early, But that changed nothing, Jeanne Williams will always be afraid of the dark.

Where was the light switch again?, Jeanne got up and stretched forward over her desk, There it was!, the switch, She turned it on and the tiny room came to life.

Jeanne let out a yawn and gazed at her room, She cocked a brow and frowned, She was only realising just how dull it was.

Her One person bed, was dressed in Her dull White sheets, She had a thuck grey duvet that was located somewhere on the floor now, Her three pillows were usually arranged at her head stand, but now she saw one and two laying helplessly on the floor.

Jeanne had a Small drawer close to her bed, It was brown in colour and acted as a table for her books, lamp, Extension, Phone and her and small annoying alarm, the rest of the room was pretty plain, A small closet, Her two huge luggage arranged at the side of the Closet, Her Bags arranged on her wall and a shoe drawer that held the same overused shoes.

It was very minimalist, Not that Jeanne complained, She didn’t have the cash to spare, and was okay with how she had managed the small space.

Jeanne feet moved before her Mind, She was still mentally asleep, but Looking at the time, She knew it was impossible to stay asleep. So Jeanne walked towards her door, She grabbed her towel and dashed through the door.

Jeanne’s apartment was a good example of how crazy New York’s apartments had been in recent years. Her Apartment was a double room, It had a Sitting room and Kitchen linked in one, Their bathroom was barely 6 feet, It was so tiny that Jeanne and her roommate couldn’t fit in together, if they tried to. For a monthly rent of 2000 dollars, it was Such a disappointment, especially when Jeanne knew she could build A house With that in her home country, Nigeria.

Jeanne entered the bathroom, it was besides her room, which annoyed her much more than her alarm, but she never complained, She was here for the American dream. She stripped down To nothing but her birthday suit, She tossed her clothes out of The bathroom and they landed on the floor, she then closed the door and turned on the shower.

Jeanne was cold, but the shower was cooler and She shivered with each scrub of her skin. Luckily, She survived through the bath , turned off the shower and wrapped the towel around her skin.

She opened the bathroom door and was immediately startled when a fully dressed Juliette appeared before her with a frown on her face. Jeanne’s eyes followed her movements and landed on her dirty clothes that were wrapped around her perfectly manicured fingers.

“I know I know”, Jeanne Shut her up, stepping out of the Bathroom and closing the door behind her .

Juliette scoffed, “Same old shit, You contribute to why your Clothes don’t live long”, She threw the Clothes Into the Washing machine besides the Bathroom, and hissed at her friend. Jeanne grinned.

“That’s why I love you”. She said hugging her friend from behind but Juliette darted away, and threw her a side eyed.

“Anne!!, My clothes”, Jeanne’s eyes widened with realisation, Juliette was on her cooperate attire and she had wet it.

“I am sorry, I am sorry”. Jeanne Gushed out trying to pacify her friend, and although she was slightly upset, She gave in eventually and smiled a little.

“Well Go get ready, We have to catch the bus remember”. Juliette said walking away,

“Okay, let me get dressed!”. Jeanne said to Juliette’s retreating figure,

“Okay, be ready before 5”. She Muttered before entering her room and closing the door.

Jeanne rushed into her room, She quickly dropped her towel abs and rushed to her Closet. The cream coloured furniture held her clothes, She arranged them in a colour pattern, a last resort to make her room, look more arranged.

Her eyes sighted Her suit, She pulled it out and closed the closet. Jeanne loved to arrange her clothes in the manner she wanted to wear it, It was conventional but not fashionable, Jeanne wore her clothes the same way all the time.

Her attire was a blue blazer, A white button up shirt, Blue high waisted jeans and black platform Flats. It matched just right and Jeanne loved wearing them on Monday.

The outfit took a while to put on, but once she did, age grabbed her purse and her files from her drawer, She bent down and pulled out the last drawer where her accessories where. It was a small vanity box, a green velvet one that housed her Earrings, watches, and necklaces. She grabbed them randomly and closed the drawer.

Jeanne wore a leather watch, Gold earrings and small pearl necklace as her accessories, She packed her box braids in a bun and rushed out of the room with her bag and office file in hand.

“Juliette you out yet!?,” Jeanne was yelling out as she ran out of her room. The sitting room was quiet, And still dark, Jeanne frowned, Juliet was still in her room. Jeanne kept her items on the Kitchen table top, she sat on the long stool, and tapped her feet patiently for Juliette, It wasn’t long before She came out of her room.

“Let’s Go Jeanne”. Juliette said walking to the door.

“Sure”, Jeanne packed her things and walked right out with her, They locked their door and went on with their day. It was going to be yet another Stressful day in the City of New York.

New York’s Subway stations were always busy, no matter the time of the day. It was a never ending experience of pure rush, fear and excitement put together. Jeanne’s first experience with it was a memorable one, It was her first day of work and like her Enemies would want, she missed her train twice, and on The third Ride, she missed her stop, She was mentally exhausted by the end of the ride, and Her Boss Took it extremely hard, He harshly shouted at her and she spent the whole day taking turns between crying in the bathroom and trying to stay cal through her hectic work schedule.

6am, Jeanne and Juliette highlighted their bus, They walked as fast as Juliette’s heals Could take her while Jeanne contemplated leaving her friend behind to catch the train. She couldn’t however, She loved her too much, enough for her to always want to help and forgive, A feeling they both shared together.

“Hurry Up Juliette, The train comes at 6:15, We aren’t going to catch up with it if we are this slow!!”, Jeanne groaned, Juliette led out yet another plea.

“I’m Sorry, I’m sorry”, Juliette begged while They darted down the underground stairs of the subway, it was long and never ending at first, but soon they reached the feet and to their Shock, the station was crowded and rowdy, even at such an early time.

“Fuck!”, Juliette cursed as she gazed around the Station.

“let’s go!!”, It was a daily struggle for both friends to get through the busy crowd in the subway station. It was always so crowded

It felt like they had entered into some kind of fare. People were looking for their trains and running towards their racks, and some were roaming here and there waiting for their trains, and a lot of people were there in the waiting hall as well.

Loud Music could already be heard as well as the sound of the guitar and people singing. The train station was a daily hustle for them. .

Jeanne was used to it all, It was a part of the experience and she never minded it, The most important thing for her was to secure her livelihood. She didn’t mind how she got there, or who she met along the way.

The main Struggle began as they started squeezing through the crowd, Jeanne’s neck was Stretched as she looked through the stops for her train, She kept walking still and held a hand out for Juliette who always found it hard to get through. Juliette held on to her for dear life, as they navigated their way through.

It was a miracle when Jeanne boarded her train. It was almost impossible as the squeezing had intensified when they got to the entrance, The train was already packed inside and Jeanne feared that any minute the limit would be exceeded, She began squeezing and squeezing and was lucky to enter before the worst happened.

“Thank God”, It was a breath of relief as Jeanne and Juliette finally made it inside, There was no seat to sit on, But there was a good standing spot close to the seats and doors that Jeanne selected. She kept her friend closer to the chair, while she stood and looked around.

Contrary to popular belief, Jeanne Found The train ride experience as the highlight of her day, The rush and Sheer excitement was how she got through the busy and exhausting life she had.

The Ride wasn’t loud, but the people were, Jeanne listened to some conversations but tuned out after hearing the announcement.

The announcement was made by a Man He announced that all the passengers should keep their belongings safe as lots of thieves wander around the trains and try to snatch the mobile phones, wallets, and jewelry of passengers. Jeanne felt sad at one point but it also made her very active, She hated how cautious people had to be, because of bad people, but knew she had no choice or say In hour people chose to spend their short lives. She kept her Wallet safe in inner part of her bag and her mobile and wallet in her safe pockets. She clutched her bags to her chest and held both her File and Bag tightly.

It was the reality of the world She, and everyone in the subway were living.

Jeanne waited patiently for her stop, It was Two stops Before Juliette’s and she knew she had to be extra alert for it.

It came through an announcement, “All Passenger’s on board should prepare themselves for the next stop by heading towards the Exits”.

Jeanne turned to Juliette, “I’ll be leaving now!”. She yelled through the noise.

“Okay!!, See you later!!”. Juliette yelled back much louder forcing some people to look at them. “I’ll Be making Lasagna!!”, She shouted again not phased.

“Okay!!!”, Jeanne shouted back while laughing to herself. She loved to annoy them.

It was her first good Laugh in a good while. Jeanne bid her friend farewell before she began darting through the crowd. It was yet another round of pushing, but she did so and found herself in front of the door.

A good minute passed before the doors opened. Jeanne dashed through immediately and found herself in another busy Station. She didn’t stay to relish the the fullness, instead she ran through to get to her exit.

She checked her wrist watch, 6:46, She was Now Almost late.

Jeanne sucked in a breath, She eyed the stairs, There was only one way for her to get to her office in Time, She had to run.

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