Book 5: Invitation

Heidi

I lug my only suitcase inside the new apartment. It’s stuffed with new clothes that I bought over the week.

Since nothing was salvaged from the fire, I had to make a list of priorities of what to buy. My computer is gone, and I’ve yet to replace it. I spent an entire day at City Hall getting a new social security card, then the DMV for my driver’s license despite the fact I never use it to drive. Getting a transit card for the subway was easy, at least, but I had no clothes to wear that didn’t smell like smoke, and I also had to do grocery shopping so I’ll have something to eat at home.

Since I left the hospital, I’ve been eating only fast food–quick slices of pizza and hot-ham-and-cheese from the corner bodega. Sometimes my aunt would offer to cook something for us, but I knew she was only doing it because I was there. She’s not very fond of the kitchen, and if I weren’t at her house, I’m sure she would be eating out, too, and I didn’t want