Twelve hours of non-stop driving, and Luke felt his body starting to give out. His eyes stung, his back ached, and his head throbbed softly. He saw an old neon sign glowing faintly in the distance: "Amara Motel - Take Her to Rest..."

Luke was soaked in sleep. "As long as there's a bed and air conditioning, whoever 'she' is," he thought as he turned the wheel into the motel's driveway.

The place looked... suspicious. The lights were dim, a statue of a cupid in the lobby, and a few scantily clad women sat on the couches, laughing softly. But Luke was too tired to care.

As soon as I entered the lobby, a woman in a tight dress greeted him, "Tired, sir? Would you like some company to make you feel better?" as she touched his arm.

I stepped aside slowly.

"I just want to sleep. Alone."

Another woman who followed him, more aggressive, greeted him with a mischievous smile and a spoiled voice,

"Are you sure you're alone in a place like this?"

I took a deep breath.

“Sure. Please lock the room. The one furthest from the sound.”

The women looked at each other, then chuckled as they held the key. But I ignored them. I walked through the hallway, dragging a small bag, eager to get to bed.

But as I passed the hallway to my room, my eyes met someone.

A young woman, standing still in front of one of the rooms, seemed to have finished serving a customer because her clothes were the same as the woman I met in the main lobby earlier. Her hair was long and loose, her face was clean without the heavy makeup like the others. She looked... different. Not flirtatious, not interested in attracting attention. Instead, she looked like someone who was also... exhausted.

Our eyes met for a few seconds.

She smiled faintly.

“Have a good rest, sir.”

Luka nodded slowly as he watched the woman walk past him, she seemed to be a new employee.

She looked so young. Why did she work in a place like this?