Page 24 of The Pakhan's Sold Bride

As she’s walking towards the entrance of the crumbling building, a man approaches her. A debt collector. I recognize his type straight away.

He blocks her path as she tries to step through the door.

Lara looks flustered and upset.

She throws her hands in the air in exasperation.

I duck down the side alley, close enough to hear the conversation.

“Please, I just need more time,” she sighs.

“We’ve given you enough time. Where have you been? Hiding from your obligations?” he snarls.

“No, I had some issues. But I’m back now, and I’m going back to work, and as soon as I get my weekly pay, I’ll get back up to date.”

“Lara, the boss is tired of your excuses. It’s taking too long. We want the money,” he says.

She nods, looking broken and upset. “I know, okay. I know.”

“You’ve got until the end of the week. This is your last chance, though. The boss says no more after this.”

The man turns away and storms off.

What is he talking about? I wonder who she owes money to.

Lara hurries into the building, and I walk in after her, catching sight of her as she makes her way down a passage on the ground floor.

I have to duck out of sight when she glances over her shoulder.

I follow her to a brown door, coated in grime.

She slides a key into the lock and tugs a piece of paper off the front of the door. For a moment, she just stares at it. I can’t be sure from here, but it looks like she’s crying.

She crumples the paper and throws it angrily against the wall.

The door is stuck, and she has to kick the base of it to get it to open.

Once she’s inside, she slams the door behind her.

I jog towards the piece of paper, grab it from the floor, and then jog away again, not wanting to be seen by her or anyone else.

Outside on the sidewalk, I spread the crumpled page open and my brows knit tightly as I read it.

Eviction notice.

Attention: Ms. L. Abakumov.

Rent not received.

Third and final warning already given on the 17thof the previous month.

All belongings are to be removed by no later than the 5thof the current month, or belongings will be forcibly removed.

My eyes skim over the information in disbelief.

This is where she lives?

It can’t be.

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