Claire opens her wallet, counts the few crumpled notes inside and lets out a long sigh. Her cash is dwindling fast, and landing a decent job in London is turning out to be tougher than she ever imagined. She runs a mental inventory of her essentials, trying to steady her racing heart. The freezer holds a pack of chicken thighs and a few frozen burgers. The pantry contains rice, pasta and a box of tea bags. For now she can make do with a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread from the corner shop.
Mom, where are you going? Little Emily bursts out of her bedroom, her big brown eyes searching Claires face with worry.
Dont worry, love, Claire says, forcing a smile to hide her nerves. Im just off to look for work. And guess what? Aunt Zoe and her son Parker will be over soon to keep you company.
Parkers coming? Emilys face lights up, her hands clapping with excitement. Will they bring Muffin?
Muffin is Zoes tabby cat, a fluffy ball of affection that Emily dotes on. Zoe, the neighbour, has offered to watch Emily while Claire heads to a job interview at a fooddistribution firm in the city centre. Getting to the office in London means a long commute, more time on buses and trains than the interview itself will take.
Its been over two months since Claire and Emily moved to the capital. Claire blames herself for the impulsive decision uprooting her life with a small daughter, spending most of her savings on rent and groceries, all gambling on finding a job quickly. The London job market is ruthless. Even with two university degrees and relentless determination, a stable position feels like chasing a mirage. Back in her small hometown of York, her mother Linda and younger sister Emma rely on her as the familys rock. They arent exactly selfsufficient without her.
Muffin will stay at home, sweetheart, Claire says gently. He isnt a fan of long road trips. Well visit Aunt Zoes flat soon and you can cuddle him as much as you like.
I want a cat too! Emily whines, crossing her arms.
Claire chuckles and shakes her head. Emily always gets that way whenever pets are mentioned. In York, at Grandma Lindas house, they left behind Shadow, a sleek black cat, and a small yappy dog called Peanut. Emily plays with them whenever she visits and now misses them terribly.
Love, the landlord wont allow pets in this flat, Claire explains. Hes strict about it.
Not even a goldfish? Emily asks, eyebrows raised in disbelief.
Not even a goldfish.
At that moment the pets are the least of Claires worries. Her mind is fixed on one thing: securing a job. Her last reserves are fading, and each day brings a fresh wave of anxiety. She did manage to pay six months rent in advance, but that almost left her pennyless.
The doorbell rings, snapping Claire out of her thoughts. Zoe and her fiveyearold son Parker stand on the step, each holding a tupperware of homemade chocolatechip biscuits and a slice of Zoes mothers famous lemon pound cake. Like Claire, Zoe is a single mother, living with her parents in a cramped flat nearby. Saving for a place of their own in London feels like trying to win the lottery.
