The Broken Girl

Azalea. There were time-worn poster ads plastered against the metal walls inside the rocky elevator and debris of food wrappings scattered across the floor. Bright overhead lights flickered inside their plastic panel covers, and I couldn’t help but note the fact that the emergency button was broken. I clutched my single suitcase containing everything I owned tighter to my chest, staring at the numbers flickering on the panel above the door, my heart inside her ears. Next time I would take the stairs. I didn’t care if I had to climb nine stories up with all my groceries or take twenty trips to haul everything into my apartment. This was the first—and the last time—I would ever take the elevator in this place. The building of Black Bill was in Ketchikan, Alaska—a few miles away from the massive Tongass forest. The location was breathtaking, but I had my doubts as it was literally in the middle of nowhere. However, it was the furthest away I could get from my abusive ex, Barry, and his po