From Riches to Rags by Mairsile Leabhair

looking disoriented at first.
    But then she looked at me somewhat embarrassed, and said, “I’m sorry. I guess I was more tired than I thought I was. I hope I didn’t snore, or drool or anything like that?”
    “Not at all. You have the cutest snore, and the seats are leather, so a little drool won’t hurt them.” I teased her just a little, hoping she would appreciate my charm. She hadn’t notice it.
    “I’ll pay for any damage‒”
    “Chris, I was joking. You didn’t do any of those things, I promise.” She did twitch her nose as she slept, but I thought it best not to embarrass her more, with something I found intimately attractive.
    “Oh, thanks.” She looked out the window and then over at me, “Where are we? I don’t recognize this neighborhood.”
    “I sort of got lost, but I think this next street up will lead to your apartment.” A little white lie for the greater good.
    She looked at her watch and gasped, “How long have you been lost? You should have wakened me.”
    She wasn’t being accusing, and I didn’t take it as such, but I couldn’t tell her the truth because I knew that it would only backfire on me.
    “I didn’t want to wake you because I didn’t want to admit that I was lost.”
    “I see. Well, I’m glad you could admit that, Ms. Blackstone.”
    “Please, call me Melinda, like before.” I never really liked my first name, until Chris spoke it out loud.
    “I guess it’s the least I could do for your kindness. Oh look, that’s my building over there.”
    I pulled up in front of her apartment and we got out of the car. The street reeked of urine and I could see a drunk just outside the door, passed out cold. Then I looked up at the shabby, beleaguered building that looked like it could fall down at any minute. All the buildings on this street looked the same, old.
    I exclaimed before I could bite it back, “Oh my God, did I do that? Did I put you in that squalor of an apartment building?”
    “You are full of yourself, aren’t you, Melinda?”
    That one stung, probably deservedly so.
    “No, you did not put me in this squalor, as you called it. I put myself here and am thankful that I even have a roof over my head. So…” she tugged at her T-shirt and wiped her hands on her jeans, and then extended a hand out to me, “thank you again for the ride, and I’ll see you around sometime.”
    It was the kiss off that I had been dreading, though I’m not a hundred percent sure I know why.
    “I’d like to see you again… uh… too.” Lame! “I mean, I really want to know more about how you ended up here because it sounds to me like you’ve lived a different life before this. Am I right?” Keep her talking, just keep her talking until she promises to see you again.
    “It’s not a story I want to share. So, remember that we’re even now, your conscious is clear and you can get back to your life now.”
    No, no, no! I want more! “Yes, thank you for that. I’ll um, I’ll see you around, I guess.”
    “Good night.”
    And with that, she walked up the five steps to the front door, bent over the bum and slipped a ten dollar bill into his hands, then walked inside. Ten dollars? Was that the ten spot that I left her as a tip? Well shit. I didn’t need a brick to hit me on the head to make it any clearer.
     
     

 
    Chapter Five
     
    Sleepless Nights ‒ Christine Livingston
     
    “Blackie, I’m so glad to see you. Are you hungry?” My kitten greeted me at the door as I walked in. What a difference it made in my mood. Leaving Melinda on the doorstep made me feel unsettled somehow. But I will have to wonder why later. Right now all I want to do is feed the kitten and go to bed. I’m exhausted.
    I fed Blackie some tuna, and played with her for a little bit, and then I collapsed on the bed, shoes and all. I might have nodded off for a moment. Damn it, what’s wrong with me? I’ve asked that question before, and never actually found an answer to it.
    “Was I so