Lifeline (Ghost x Reader) (Part 1)
After being let go from your previous job, you're in search of a job you can juggle with your degree. The universe hands you an offer that seems too good to be true, and with how desperate you are to keep the power on, you take it.
Your last job had ended unceremoniously, a conversation with your boss about late pay checks had resulted in you packing your bags and leaving. If you weren't so worried about keeping the utilities on in your apartment, you might have even been happy about it. Good riddance to that place and its many workplace safety violations.
Instead, you made your way to the bus stop and got on the bus, sitting down on one of the patterned seats designed to hide years of grime. As if to mock you, the sky outside turned dark and the clouds hung heavy, releasing fat droplets that landed onto the bus windows with a splat. It would be poetic, really, if it didn't feel so personal.
The bus peeled down busy streets until it came to a pause as you shuffled to the front and out, speaking a small gratitude to the driver who acknowledged the gesture with a nod of his head.
The small walk to you apartment building was easy enough and you managed to avoid most of the rain, making your way up the stairs and to your floor to see a note stuck haphazardly on your front door.
Utilities out in a week, you in two. Get the money or get gone.
You sighed, holding the flimsy note in between your fingers. Your landlord was as pleasant as ever, it appears.
Just as you pocketed the note, the door to the neighbouring apartment opened, and the familiar face of your elderly neighbour popped out. She eyed the note in your hand and gave you a sympathetic look.
"Hi, Ms Fraser" you spoke, sending her a tired smile as she came to stand out in front of her own door.
"How are you, dear?" she asked in that shaky voice all old people seem to have.
"Making ends meet" you responded, tapping your index and middle finger against your door frame as you leant on it.
She paused, giving you a knowing look with her kind eyes before speaking again. "What is it this time?".
She didn't have to say anything in specific, you knew what she was talking about. She knew you knew what she was talking about, too.
"Utilities, out in a week or I'm gone in two" you said, a sigh slipping out. Maybe you were more exhausted than you realised.
"Are you going to make it in time?"
You paused before answering, taking a deep breath and plastering on a smile as if it could help change the reality of the situation.
"You know I will, I always do".
"Look after yourself, dear" she offered, hesitant to leave but knowing there was nothing else you could do as you always shot down any offer of help with the same remark.
"Don't worry about me, Ms Fraser. You got yourself to look after".
You just nodded and turned to your own apartment, unlocking it with the key and pushing open the door to the dark room.
Off came your shoes and your coat, messily discarded by the entrance as you made your way to bed and collapsed into it, drawing the thick blankets up around you.
Maybe the stress of living your life like this was catching up to you. Sure, you'd been losing a bit more hair in your showers and the ache in your shoulders definitely wasn't there a few weeks ago. Was it finally starting to rear it's ugly head?
All you could think about as you laid in bed, eyes open, focussing on nothing in the consuming darkness of your bedroom, was your earlier words to your dear elderly neighbour.
"You know I will, I always do".
And it was true. Every other time you had managed to hang on, fighting tooth and nail to get that money, but had you finally pushed your luck?
"Not this time", was the last thing you can remember thinking before your mind went blank and you slipped into sleep.