I made it out of the forest only to become homeless for months, living off the worst kind of food imaginable. I stole and did other unthinkable things to stay alive.
It's hard finding a job when you're 16 add homeless to the mix, and you're done. No one wants to hire a hobo, and when you finally do get hired, they pay way less, and you do more cause they know you desperately need the money, most days it felt like free labor.
I had all the bad jobs at all the crappy places I worked. I washed the dishes, cleaned the bathroom, mopped the floor, and many other things. Yet I was paid less than the other employees, which is messed up. I remained homeless for three more months while I had a job—saving money. The nights were cold and long—I cried myself to sleep every now and then, but the time finally came when I had enough money saved up. I bought the cheapest clothes I could find to change into for work and ate leftovers from the dinner, just to save money.
I saved enough to rent a shitty apartment in a bad neighborhood. Now... Let's move on from the depressing topic of my life. To one that stresses me out.
School.
When I lived in my old pack—me speaking as if I have a new one—I used to go to school. Sure, I had the shit bullied out of me, but, at least I learned something—that I'm smart. After I got kicked out and became homeless, even after I got a job and an apartment, I stayed out of school for an entire year.
Meaning when I was 16, I worked my ass off with multiple jobs, living in a shoebox. Luckily, I'm smart—as you already know—and no, I'm not just being cocky. When I attended school I always had good grades. Even though I barely had time to study, thanks to all the harassment—both at school and home. All I had to do was pay attention in class and that was good enough to get me a b+.
When I turned 17, I enrolled in school—not the grade I skipped, the grade I should be in. How did this happen? Well... I do live in a shitty apartment and work shitty jobs. The fact that you thought that I would go to a good school made my day. I didn't go to school cause I wanted to, I was in it to win it, and that's exactly what I did.
I studied super hard and always had good grades, an A- is a failing mark in my book. Then I heard the best news of my life, some big shot school was taking one student from my school and other neighboring schools—to look good, of course. You already know they went with the smartest kid—that would be me. Thank you very much.
All I had to do was keep up my good grades (check), and I had a full scholarship. The only problem was that the school was a 5 hour drive away from where I lived, and I didn't have a car.
New level unlock: More stress.
I had to find an apartment closer to my new school and a new job. Keeping up with school and all my jobs at the same time wasn't an option. I got lucky—again—and found another old creep renting out a one-bedroom apartment. He said it was cheap because I was pretty. Yeah, right. As if the peeling wallpaper, hidden mold, and that weird, lingering smell weren't the real reason. The place was a dump. And it wasn't even that cheap—especially with my newfound expenses. I had to buy school supplies, clothes, shoes, and still manage to feed myself.
It's a good thing I've never let my money problem stop me before, so I did what I always do and found a job, rented the apartment, and bought all the school necessities that I could afford and by this time next week, I'll be attending an entirely different school—completely broke.
Hopefully, it goes well.