Believe Like a Child by Paige Dearth Page A

so.
    When she got back to the Travelodge, Alessa went straight to her room and locked the door behind her. She undressed and took a lukewarm shower, as the Travelodge didn’t seem to be very generous with their supply of hot water. She started planning out her next steps while washing herself. She would, she decided, get up early the next morning and head over to her apartment. She would buy the Philadelphia Enquirer and go through the “Help Wanted” section. Once she was through with that, she would spend the day cleaning her new apartment.
    By the time she was dressed, it was almost five-thirty p.m. Famished from not having eaten all day, Alessa headed out to Chinatown, where colorful signs and lights lined the streets. The aroma of the food was simply irresistible and made her mouth water. Having no clue as to which restaurant would be the right one to choose, Alessa followed three young couples into the House of Chen. She was greeted by a short Asian woman in her mid-fifties, who seated her immediately at a table in the small first-floor dining room.
    After dinner, Alessa walked back to the motel slowly, taking in the sights of the city. Although it was, for the most part, dirty and life seemed fast-paced, people seemed to enjoy being there anyway. On her way back, she passed the homeless men lined up for the night at St. John’s Hospice. They were chatting among themselves and sharing stories. They may not have had a home to return to, but Alessa got the impression that they had each other and drew comfort from that fact. She wondered if her perception was based on reality or merely the outcome of her desire to believe that these broken people had something to fall back on, a form of bonding and kinship that would provide them with emotional sustenance. As she watched them, she wondered if these destitute men could find friends and a sense of family in each other’s company, maybe she too could, one day, find the happiness that continued to elude her.
    Alessa went back into the Travelodge to call Zoe and tell her about the progress she had made since they parted ways at the Norristown train station. Zoe sounded pleased that Alessa had found an apartment so quickly.
    “Did anyone from my family get in touch with you and ask about me?” Alessa asked a little apprehensively.
    “No,” Zoe replied. “I haven’t heard a word from them. But Alessa, I want you to be careful. I don’t know much about the city, but I do know that North Philadelphia has a reputation for being tough. Don’t trust anyone and keep your door locked at night.”
    “Okay, Zoe, I will,” Alessa reassured her. “I’ll call you tomorrow night after I get settled into the apartment. Maybe you’ll be able to come over and visit me soon. We could spend some time together in the city.”
    “Sure, that sounds nice,” Zoe said.
    When she had hung up the phone, Alessa changed into Rhonda’s favorite tee shirt. It was a garment she had slept in many times, but wearing it now, she felt closer to her dead friend. She slid under the covers and fell asleep to the sounds of the television on the dresser at the foot of her bed. She didn’t dream at all that night. She was finally about to start a new life for herself—with a clean slate. No one here knew who she was or of her shortcomings. Tomorrow, Sunday, was offering her the chance to start anew.
    She woke up the next morning, brimming with excitement. Ready to get her new life on track, she prepared for the new day that, she wanted to believe, would mark the beginning of progress and hope. She was sure some part of her life, at least, was going to get better.

Chapter Nine

     
    C arrying her purse and her duffle bag, Alessa checked out of the Travelodge and took the bus to Dauphin Street. When she got to her apartment building, she climbed to the top of the steps where Lea was waiting for her with two keys—one for the front door and the other for her apartment. Propped next to the door of