I open my eyes, only to wish that I hadn't. I dreamt of my mother last night. We were having coffee, bonding at the cafe that stood near our home. It was the cafe we went to for her birthday, every year. Her kind smile was the focus of the dream. It was her smile that kept me going.
     My eyes squint as the sun rays flow through the cracks between the curtains and into my eyes. I rise from the bed, using my arms as support. My legs ache as I get up from the bed. With sore thighs, I force them to take me to the dresser. I look into the eyes of the red haired girl. She looks terrible. As I stare into her eyes, tears come out my own. I pity her.
     She rakes her hands through her long red hair. No bruises stained her face today.  Sighing, she frowns.
     Stepping away from the mirror, I check to see if my door isn't locked. Relieved, I see that it isn't. If it was and someone tried to come in here, I would've been in trouble.
     I walk back to my bedroom to get my phone. Martha still sleeps as I disconnect my phone from its charger. Opening it, I see the notifications listed upon my home screen. I'll look at them later.
     With my phone, I make my way to my bathroom. I turn on the water, turning it to the HOT section. Back on my phone, I go to my music. On shuffle, my phone plays Coldplay.
     I need to figure out what I'm going to wear today. Walking over to my closet, I walk inside. My look for work is professional. Many men liked the collared look. I grab a white button-up along with a gray fitted knee length skirt. After picking my shoes, I lay my outfit on the bed.
     I go back into the bathroom, greeted by steam. After removing my clothes, I enter the tub. The water hits my skin. As the drops swim down me I wash myself. The process of showering was rejuvenating. It was the antidote for the sickness of the previous night. Scrubbing myself with the loofah, I scrub the sickness away. Cleaning myself felt like I was cleaning the plate of my life. But unfortunately, plates get dirty again.
     Rushing, I step out of the shower. I dry myself off with my towel. I go to my dresser, opening a drawer to get undergarments. I put on my clothes carefully, making sure I look polished. After lathering my body in lotion, I put my heels on. Finally, it's time for me to put on my makeup. All I applied was mascara and some vaseline on my lips, for softness.
     After refilling Martha's food and water, I pet her a goodbye. Satisfied, I grab my glasses from my nightstand and leave my room, leaving a crack in the doorway so Martha can come and go as she pleases.
     My phone ring as I exit my room.
     A faint smile grows on my face as I see who's calling. "Hi, Mom!"
     "Happy birthday, Tanya! How's my baby doing?"
     "I'm doing great, Mom" I start to cry through the lie I tell. "How are you doing?"
     "I'm fine, honey."
     "And Rob?" Her husband.
     "Oh, Robert's doing great. We're doing good." She says. I can hear the smile in her voice. "So, what's my daughter doing for her seventeenth birthday?"
     "Uh, I might go out with my friends." If I had any.
     "That's great, honey. Don't have too much, honey."
     Nodding, I say "Okay. I gotta go, Mom. Tell Rob I said hi."
     "I love you, honey."
      A flood rises below my eyelids. "I love you too, Mom."
     I hang up and proceed to go the bedroom next to mine. Not bothering to knock, I enter the room. I sigh when my eyes land on Melanie's body in the bed.
     "C'mon, Mel." I say while I rip the sheets from her body. "We gotta go to work."
     I know she's awake. She probably woke up hours ago, knowing her. Her procrastinating self just waits till the last minute to get out of bed.
     "Melanie, I swear to God."
     Sucking her teeth, she turns to look at me. "No need to go swearing up in here. I'm up."
     I walk away from her and go to her bathroom. After turning the shower on, I check the time on my phone. We need to start working by ten o'clock.
     Melanie walks into the bathroom with her towel and clothes in her hand. "Thanks, babe."
     Landing on her bed, I sit down and look through my phone. Looking at the notifications, I see that I have a text. It was from Robert, wishing me a happy birthday. The others were reminders for my appointments today.
     I looked through phone's calendar to see what exactly I would be doing today. With only three appointments, I have an empty day. This means that I'd have to go out today and look for customers.
    Melanie walks out of the bathroom fully clothed. Her uniform was different from mine. Her outfits consisted of tight leather tops with short fitted leather skirts.
     "Happy birthday, Tanya!" she shouts. She wraps her arms around me and squeezes me.
     Hugging her back, I say "Thank you." I pick up her heeled boots from the floor and hand them to her. "How many appointments do you have today?"
     "Only one."
     I look at her, gaping. "What do you mean?"
     "It's a group appointment. About four people will be coming. I'll have the due by the end of it."
     "Oh, I was about to say."
     "What about you?" She walks over to her dresser and starts applying her makeup. "How many appointments do you have?'"
     "I have three."
     "Oh, by any chance is one of them with Mr. Forester?" She smirks in the reflection.
     "Mhmm."
     "You'd think after visiting you every day, he'd ask you out on a proper date."
     I scoff. "This isn't the kind of life where proper dates exist. It's dumb to think of things like that."
     "Well honey, we gotta numb the pain somehow." she mutters as she applies her lipstick.