Page 103

He nods, focusing on the road. “You got it.”
We exit out of the airport and start heading down Eastern Ave. God, this place is so much different than Texas. It’s a concrete jungle compared to the green and lush landscape I’d grown used to. The streets are crowded with cars, people are walking up and down the sidewalk, and the air doesn’t smell as fresh as Texas air does.
I sink back into the seat of the taxi and breathe a sigh of relief. Though, I really need to get myself a new cell phone and start figuring out where my mother is. And I have no idea where to even begin with that.
We pull onto Boulder Highway and dread immediately fills me. The driver wasn’t wrong about the area. It’s not the best place in Las Vegas, but it’s cheap. And if certain someones come looking for me, it’s the last part of town they would expect to find me in.
There’s a method to my madness. I promise.
We soon pull into the Motel Sunrise parking lot, and it’s practically empty. The white stucco building with the blue doors is rundown and not looking the best. Plus, with Boulder Station Hotel next door, it’s a last-resort type of place for people to pick.
Kind of like me. I grimace at the thought.
“Thank you,” I say to the driver as he pulls up to the front of the office to drop me off. As soon as the taxi comes to a stop, I jump out with my stuff and slam the door shut. With trepidation, I walk up to the front door and yank it open.
I’m greeted by an orange wall behind the counter and the smell of cheap coffee. Slowly, I walk up to the front desk that has giant Motel Sunrise signs plastered on it.
We get it, we are in a Motel Sunrise.
“How can I help you?” The lady behind the desk turns around as she speaks to me.
“Uh, hi. I need a room. Not sure how long. Can I start with a week?”
“I need identification, and how are you paying?” She types away on the computer as I dig into my wallet and pull out what she needs.
She runs my card and hands it back, and I nervously tap on the counter. Then she hands me my license back, and I return it to my purse as she eyes me, like I’m hiding something.
Not something, just me.
“Room 210. Out this door, go right, all the way down to the end. You’re on the second floor.” She hands me the key card and I grab it, turn on my heels, and head out.
When I get to the door, I slide my card in the slot, and the green light pops. I slowly open the door and am immediately greeted by an orange accent wall that a queen size bed sits against, along with orange curtains on the windows.
I’m sensing a theme here.
A cheaply built nook sits across from the bed with a tiny as fuck flatscreen television on top of it. There are a few hangers hanging inside the nook, but I think my stuff will be safer in my bag. There is a small table that sits next to the window with a single chair. Thank God I’m not expecting guests.
I make my way into the bathroom, and it’s decent for the place I’m in. It looks clean and doable for now.
My hands rest on the counter as I peer at myself in the mirror. I look like hell. There are dark circles under my eyes, and with all the lack of sleep lately, it’s understandable.
I move back to the bed and flop down on it. I need to get a bit of rest before I can even begin to process what I’m going to do. Curling up against the pillow, I clutch my chest and allow myself a chance to do something I have needed to do for a while.
Cry.
A loud crash from outside my room has my eyes flinging open. The room is lit up in early morning light. I look over at the clock and see that it’s six in the morning, which explains the sun rising.
I let out a groan and realize I was so tired that I slept through the night. Which is fine, I guess. I needed it. Walking into the bathroom, I realize I have nothing to brush my hair with or my teeth. I let out a sigh as I realize I will need to go shopping to get that stuff.
Like a phone, too. Because I can’t even call a Lyft right now. And that means a bus. I let out a groan as my head tips back. I didn’t think this through enough.
Fuck.
I rinse my mouth a couple times and throw my hair back with a scrunchie I have, then grab my purse. I need food and shopping. It’s still early, but this is Vegas. Everything is open at all hours of the day.
The front desk tells me of a Walmart down the road and hands me a bus schedule. In all the years I lived in Vegas, I have never taken a bus. I guess there’s a first time for everything.
When I finally get to Walmart, the first place I stop at is the prepaid phone section. I grab one that I can at least browse the internet on. The next stop is some much needed essentials. Toothbrush, toothpaste, and the likes.