Sampaguita

One rainy autumn afternoon, I was walking back home.  I had just missed the last train after hanging out at the party too long.  My friend needed money for the hotel, so I didn't have any money left to catch a cab.  My clothes were drenched with sweat.  Suddenly, I heard a noise from behind the bar.  I looked and found a girl on her knees.   She turned to around as I spoke to her.  I knew right away that she was from Southeast Asia from the color of her skin.  I also noticed a little cut on her forehead, bleeding.  Carrying her on my back, I walked back to my apartment. 

She called herself Maria.  She looked Filipino.  She said that she had no idea why she was behind the bar.  In order to find out her identity, I searched inside her bag.  There was a photo, cassette tape, some cosmetics, cash and ... a gun.  She became extremely upset as I found the gun inside her purse.  She was so upset that I decided to put her in bed.  

The following morning, I left for work, assuming that Maria would be gone by the time I came home that afternoon.  However, when I came home, the apartment was clean and Maria was still there.  "I have no where else to go," said Maria. 

That's how my life with Maria started...