The rain had started as a light drizzle when Rose and Daniel left their father's estate, but by the time they reached the hotel, it had turned into a steady downpour. The taxi ride had been mostly silent, except for the occasional sigh from Daniel as he stared out the window.
Rose, on the other hand, kept her eyes fixed on her phone, scrolling through apartment listings. Nothing was promising. Everything in a decent neighborhood was too expensive, and everything cheap looked like it belonged in a horror movie.
When the taxi pulled up in front of a modest three-story hotel, Rose exhaled, stuffing her phone into her pocket. "This is it," she muttered, grabbing her duffel bag.
Daniel raised an eyebrow as he stepped out, lifting his hoodie to shield himself from the rain. "Not exactly five-star, huh?"
"It's not supposed to be," Rose shot back. "It's a place to sleep until we find something better."
Inside, the hotel smelled faintly of old carpets and cleaning supplies. The receptionist, an older man with graying hair and thick glasses, barely looked up as Rose handed over cash for a two-night stay. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep them off the streets while she searched for a real apartment.
Once they had the key, they made their way up the narrow staircase, the old wooden steps creaking under their weight. Their room was at the end of the hall—small but clean. Two twin beds sat against opposite walls, a tiny table between them, and a single window that overlooked the street below.
Rose tossed her bag onto the bed closest to the door and let out a long breath.
"Well," Daniel said, throwing himself onto the other bed, "at least the sheets are clean."
Rose smirked. "Lower your standards a little more, and you might start thinking this is paradise."
Daniel chuckled but didn't argue. The weight of everything was settling in. They had left their father's house—the only home they had ever known—without a real plan.
Rose shook the thought away. She refused to second-guess herself now.
She pulled out her phone and sat cross-legged on the bed. "I'll start looking for apartments again. Hopefully, I can find something close enough to the city without being crazy expensive."
Daniel sat up and leaned against the headboard. "And what if you don't?"
"Then we'll figure something out," she said firmly.
He studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."
She appreciated that about him. He didn't question her decision—he followed her without hesitation. Even now, when everything felt uncertain, he trusted her to figure it out.
After a few more minutes of scrolling, her stomach growled, reminding her that they hadn't eaten since earlier that morning.
"I'll get us something to eat," she said, standing up and stretching.
Daniel sat up. "I'm coming with you. I don't trust you to bring back anything good."
Rose rolled her eyes but didn't argue. A walk in the cool night air might help clear her head.
---
Stepping out of the hotel, the cold breeze hit my skin, making me shiver. The rain had stopped, but the streets still glistened under the dim streetlights. Daniel walked beside me, hands shoved into his hoodie pockets, his usual smirk replaced by something quieter.
I didn't know if he was thinking about Dad, about home, or about the fact that we were technically homeless. But he didn't say anything, so I didn't either.
The corner store wasn't far, just a few blocks down from the hotel. It was small, the kind of place that stocked everything from fresh produce to cheap instant noodles.
Daniel went straight to the snack aisle while I grabbed two bottled waters and a couple of pre-made sandwiches from the fridge. When I found him, he was holding up a bag of chips and a pack of cookies.
"Real nutritious," I said, raising an eyebrow.
He shrugged. "We're in survival mode. Junk food is allowed."
I sighed but didn't argue. He was right—this wasn't a time to stress about a balanced diet.
At the counter, I pulled out the last of the cash I had taken from my emergency stash before leaving. I'd have to find an ATM soon, but for now, this would do.
The cashier, a middle-aged woman with tired eyes, barely glanced at us as she bagged our things. "You two new around here?"
I hesitated before nodding. "Yeah, just… passing through."
She gave me a knowing look but didn't press further. I appreciated that.
Back at the hotel, Daniel immediately sprawled out on his bed, ripping open the bag of chips as if he hadn't eaten in days.
I sat on my bed and unwrapped my sandwich, chewing slowly as I stared at my phone screen again.
"Still looking?" Daniel asked between bites.
"Yeah," I muttered. "There's this one place… a little small, but not too far from here. It's within budget."
Daniel sat up. "So, what's the problem?"
"The guy wants to meet in person before he rents it out," I said, biting my lip. "I don't know how landlords feel about renting to people with no credit history or a stable job."
Daniel scoffed. "We have money."
"For now," I reminded him. "I don't want to burn through it too fast."
He didn't argue.
I leaned back against the pillows, sighing. "I'll call tomorrow. See if I can convince him."
"Good," Daniel said. "Because as much as I enjoy the luxurious scent of this place, I think we can do better."
I chuckled, shaking my head. He always found a way to make things feel lighter.
Finishing my sandwich, I turned off the bedside lamp and lay back. The bed was lumpy, the air smelled vaguely of old furniture, and the city outside buzzed with unfamiliar noises.
But it was freedom.
It wasn't perfect, but it was ours.
And for now, that was enough.