Logan walked briskly down the side walk to the homeless shelter. She was wearing her best set of clothes and her nicest smile, paired with her coldest eyes. The other people walking around her averted her eyes. No one let their beautiful rich daughter out walking the streets these days. But she wasn't rich anymore, and she certainly didn't care if she was pretty or not.
It was ridiculous how they placed the homeless shelter all the way downtown. That meant either getting a cab or walking miles, and Logan didn't have enough money to pay for a taxi. They cost went up for cars, subways, and cabbies after the economic crash.
Miles and miles for Logan then.
When Logan reached the shelter, she took a deep breath. She wasn't nervous about much anymore, but visiting her father had dictated all her emotions. Her last visit ha gone disastrous. He asked when he'd be able to see his wife again.
Logan pushed open the doors and walked to the front desk. They gave her a visiting pass and she walked to her father's room.
She knocked on the door. "Dad?" Logan asked. She opened the door when a reply didn't come.
George Wellington sat in a torn up and beat arm chair, staring out the window into the courtyard here most of the people staying there worked like slaves. The only reason George got a free pass was because he was a respected man.
"Dad," Logan said as she kneeled by his chair and took his hand. His palms were rough from the work he did as a young man. He was born poorer than the dirt under his bare feet but when he was a teenager he worked and worked and worked until he sat upon a throne of gold and money. Now he was back at the start.
George turned his head to his daughter slowly, his eyes glazed over. He smiled and cupped the side of her face.
"India," he said, his eyes swimming in tears. "She told me you'd come, Lila told me you'd be here."
Logan frowned. "No, Dad, it's me, Lila."
"I have missed you so much India," he told her.
"Dad, please, it's-it's me. Lila. You know what happened to Mom. She..." Her voice trailed off.
"How is home, dear? Had any great parties without me?"
Logan told and told her father over and over that she wasn't her mother, that she was gone, she wasn't coming back. But George just kept asking her things about how Lila was and the servants.
"Dad-Dad, please, listen to me," Logan begged with tears streaming down her face.
"Don't you cry now, India. I'll be with you soon."
Logan looked down and released George's hand.
She left without another word and closed the door behind her.