Melinda looked out her window into the courtyard where no one ever played unless it was for a short supervised game of soccer. She didn't see the bars anymore. Not until she forced herself to see them and the grid like lace of aluminum security grating as well.

In the entire eight years this was her room, she never heard a fire alarm once, and wondered what would happen if it went off. Sure there was a sign on the back of her door that told her where to go and where to muster, but she wondered what regulations were in place to ensure they had a safe escape route and if they were being followed.

Something for Lana to look into. There should have been a way to get out the window if she was trapped in her room. Glancing back at the taut blankets on her bed, she saw the backpack the state issued her. That along with two bras, five panties, two pairs of socks were packed into it. A wallet with fifty dollars of cash, and the debit card to her newly opened bank account were in the pocket in the front of her sweatpants.

There was a hoodie, and a cross chest pouch as well. What was she going to put in that? In the end she decided a pen, her hairbrush, and the rest of the tissues from the box on her desk.

Glancing at the little electric alarm clock on her night table, Melinda opened her door. This was the last time she would walk out of the room. Excitement had her heart fluttering, but her chest was tightening, and familiar panic was setting in. Lana said she would be waiting, but what if she wasn't?

The guard walking in the hall stopped, waiting for her to walk past him.

"Good luck, Melinda."

"Thanks, Pete. I'll need it. I'm so scared and so happy at the same time. I sort of don't know what to think." Pete was the one guard who stepped between her and her bullies whenever he caught them causing trouble.

"Let your lawyer help you. She's done it for a few kids before you."

Melinda nodded. "Thanks again, Pete."

He unlocked the door to the main reception area. At least she knew what it was all about now after being on the work program for the last six months.

Her shoulders relaxed when she spotted Lana, and she took a long deep breath. She really needed to practice the steps Dr. Elizabeth taught her. It helped when she remembered.

"Happy Birthday, Melinda." Her state appointed lawyer smiled before she continued. "This is going to be a rough day, girl. We're going to get several things out of the way today. Getting you into the bank is first."

"Why?" Melinda asked as Lana pushed the door leading out to the parking lot open.

"Signatures for them. Even though electronic ones are perfectly legal now, they still have some old rules in place. They need it for your files."

"Right. I read about that somewhere in my research. I can't believe I'm not coming back here tonight."

"Believe it. I've got a bedroom for you in my condo. After the bank it's off the Verizon store to get you a cell phone. We'll take it home and set it up right away. Once you move in at the Cozy Corner apartment, we'll have to go to the bank again to change your address. At least you have a social security number already because you were working."

"You said we'll have to go to the DMV to get me an official ID card too, right?"

"Yes, but that's tomorrow. You need a working phone before they can issue it. I've got your birth certificate in my files, and that with your SSN card should be enough to get it done. They'll issue you a TID and mail out the official one in about two weeks."

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Melinda checked her wallet again. Wow!

Her brand new debit card, Colorado State ID and heaven forbid, bank issued credit card were right there. The warnings about using it for anything but her utilities were loud and clear.

The only number she had in her cell phone was Lana's. But they were headed over to Cozy Corner. Lana's sister wanted to to make sure they had everything right for her job. She already had her first paycheck in the bank, and Peggy was dealing with health insurance.

By now Melinda was familiar with a lot of the questions and the forms she was filling out every time she turned around. Talk about complicated. How did kids learn all this stuff?

As Peggy sat across from her in the tiny office behind the coffee station, Melinda sat copying phone numbers into her phone. Each of the owners and seven other employees went in too. She recommended non-emergency numbers for the Sheriffs and the fire department as well. She had to agree with Peggy. Those numbers were a must in any case.

"Okay, that's all the employee stuff. Now the landlord portion," Peggy said. She opened the filing cabinet behind her and pull out another folder.

I'm so scared of this one. If I screw up, I could end up homeless. It's so easy living with Lana. It's like having an older sister, or maybe an aunt. But she said as long as I stick to the budget I made; it will work. The scholarship takes care of almost everything with a major deposit at the beginning of the term and living expenses at the end of every month.

Peggy pushed a pile of papers over to her.

"That's the lease which makes it clear what you have to pay in rent every month. Internet is included, and you have a washer-dryer combo in the kitchen under in the island. We'll go up and I'll show you in a minute. You're responsible for electricity, but we take care of heat and water. Have you made an account with the utility company yet?"

"No. I'll get Lana to help me." Melinda's chest tightened, and she pressed her fist to her sternum massaging the aching spot.

Breathe. Nice steady deep and long, then let it out slowly.

"It's not hard, and I'll help you. You can do it online. You'll need to get the electrical bill in your name for the first of September."

"I had no idea how much goes into living alone and taking care of myself. They didn't teach us anything about this stuff. I'm lucky I understand numbers and business is my major." Melinda let her breath out again on a long slow five count.

"It's okay. I forgot to do it. It's why the bank gave me a credit card already. Lana explained how to do it. I have a lot of money in the bank from saving everything the state gave me and now the scholarship. I can do this." She knew she sounded like she was giving herself a pep talk.

"Well then let's go through the lease, and you can sign it. E-transfer the security deposit and I'll set up the auto withdrawal for the rent before we go up."

When she finished initialing all the little special clauses which made a lot of sense, like responsibilities for keeping things clean and light bulbs were her problem. If any of the appliances broke or the plumbing, heat, or electricity cause issues, those were Peggy's problem.

Melinda logged into her banking app on her phone and took another big breath. "This seems a little bit unreal, Peggy. I never thought past my eighteenth birthday and the end of juvenile detention."

"Lana told us about how you were framed. It's why we're giving you a chance." Her phone pinged and she picked up. "There, transfer received. You're officially ready to move in. It's mid August and I'll let you start moving in right away. The apartment has been empty for a couple of months. 

The last two weeks of August flew by. Lana helped her find furnishings and all the kitchen stuff. She even had a small smart TV which fit on the wall mount the last tenant left behind. Now she stood looking at the schedule for the next week. Could she handle the job?

Only two full blown panic attacks which was better than Dr. Elizabeth expected. Now that she was past her probation period of a month, Peggy said she was ready to take over as shift manager and the raise that went with it. How was she going to handle it?

One step at a time. It's my mantra for a reason.