The sun crept in through the dusty curtains

beaming on the empty Heineken bottles

cigarette butts scattered around the night table

one cigarette

perched in between her fingertips

on a limp arm hanging

off the side of the old bed

the phone rang

again.

“hello” she said.

not sure

where she was

“Good morning Ms. James. We tried to run your card for your stay. Your card

has been declined.”

She sat up and rubbed the sleep and drugs out of her eyes

she mumbled the same words. The same lies she’d repeated. night. After night.

“Yes, I’ll call you right back. Let me just find my other card. I’m so sorry about that.”

She rose from the bed.

Groggy

Washed her face and threw her hair in a bun. slid on her shoes.

Gathered her purse. Changed into her only other pair of clothes.

Looked into the mirror.

Disgusted. Disappointed.

Closed the door of the cheap motel room behind her

Into the hot Georgia sun.