Chapter 8

Two silhouettes were cast against the white curtains. The window was wide open, the curtains, soaked by rain, billowing in the wind. My heart leaped into my throat. I kept telling myself this couldn't be happening. And yet, without a second thought, I pushed open the store door. The moment I stepped inside, everyone froze. All eyes were on me—on my filthy body, my soaked rags clinging to my skin, my tangled, straw-like hair plastered to my face. I didn't need to see myself to know what I looked like. Right now, I must have looked like a wild, untamed woman. "Who is that?" "What is she doing here?" "She stinks." "Get her out of here!" Their voices were sharp, their disgust naked and burning against my skin. They shouted at me like I was some sewer rat that didn't belong in their world. Just then, someone stepped forward to grab me. I didn't know where my strength came from as I wrenched free and headed straight for the stairs. "Stop! That's the guest room." Hearing "guest roo