Chapter 59: Starting Over
Emily's POV
The Orchid Motel was moderately comfortable, clean enough, with soft beds and reliable hot water, but after the sprawling luxury of the mansion, it felt cramped and ordinary. The lobby smelled faintly of bleach and old carpet, and the fluorescent lights buzzed overhead like they were tired too.
I stood there with Lily's small hand in mine, my mother in her wheelchair, the one we'd left Victor's house with…half-dozing, and the weight of everything pressed down until I could barely breathe.
The man behind the counter finally looked up from his small TV. A reality show flickered across his face.
"Hi," I said, voice quieter than I intended. "I need a room. For two nights."
He scanned us….me with my bruised-looking eyes, the suitcase, Lily pale and silent, Mom mumbling softly, and nodded.
"Room 12. Two beds. One-twenty a night." He slid an actual metal key across the counter, attached to a faded plastic orchid fob.
