li
th as I take a breath while the cold night air wraps around me like a blanket, only there's
e of me getting warm anytime soon. Any feeling in my fingers and toes stopped ages ago, and I'm pretty sure that if
hat I'm wearing the thinnest pair of leggings that I have ever owned, but beg
ront of me. The place is full of people just enjoying their day while Christmas music plays in the background. A waitr
itress starts decorating a tall tree in the corner of the coffee shop, I continue to look around. The place looks so cozy and warm that t
verything else, but more than anything I've always loved a white Christmas. Seeing the stree
st ten years, and I'm struggling... struggling to survive it. As I feel tears glaze my eyes, I turn and walk away from the coffee shop and down the dark dingy alleyway that runs along t
ys still in date and fresh. Hopefully, I can find enough food for the others too. They've been struggling to find food lately because it's so cold that it's freezing before we get to it, which is why I
t they will appreciate it. I take my time getting out of the alley without being noticed, then make quick work of heading back home. I come to a crossing
en I hear a deep voice calling out only to find a guy getting out of the back of the car that just almost hit me. "I'm so sorry about that. I distrac
4 height, he looks like a Goddam giant. A Goddam Greek giant. His bright blue eyes feel like they pierce through my soul and, even
'm fine. Thank... thank you." I turn to leave, but he steps in my way and stops me by holding onto my arm. This guy reeks of money, designer labels
t to smell of their cheap hand soap for a few hours. Unfortunately, for me, I haven't had that luxury for several days. At first, we couldn't use the toilets
in in the ass most of the time. "Yes, I'm OK. I'm sorry, I'm... I need to go." I pull my arm free from his gentle hold, smile at him, then get myself away fro
e where I'm going, I walk past the entrance to the alley and head towards the small corner shop. As I get to the entrance, I look back an
ged to get tonight, and it doesn't take long for us to all get seated around the fire that S
is only three years old and the cutest little girl in the world. Her long brown hair falls down to her bum and her br
just that little bit more. "Come on, let's get your tummy nice and full before bed. And that is how our night wen
en we leave, but I have no choice. I have to get