Julia "Momma, will we ever have a Christmas tree?" the sad look in her eyes tugs at my heart. Her request is such a simple one and yet, still something that I can't give her. All children should know the pure joy of a Christmas tree, the twinkling lights, and multicolored baubles. I've only ever had one Christmas tree but I've never forgotten about it. "One year, baby, one year." It's the same line that I tell her every year but it's something that I plan on making happen.... one year anyway. "You said that last year, momma." this girl may only be three but she has an incredible brain and memory. The girl is home-schooled by me and with the limited resources that I have you would think that she would be behind for her age but she's not, she is incredibly talented and makes me insanely proud every day. "You're smart for a 3-year-old, chicken," Helen says as she comes to sit next to us. I swear this woman reads my mind several times a week. "I'm almost 4!" Nina rushes out proud to a
Riley I'm in the car and on my way to downtown New York so fast that it feels like a blur. Thankfully, the traffic isn't so bad tonight so it's a pretty quick ride to the city centre. I quickly find a parking space not too far from the alleyway then waste no time in heading that way on foot. It's almost 9 pm and from what I've learned over the past few weeks of watching her, if she is out then she will be back soon. She doesn't seem to stay out late which makes me happy because I worry about her out there doing God knows what. I stay in the dark and out of sight so as not to frighten her or anyone else who may come here and get impatient as the time goes by and she doesn't return. Maybe she's not out tonight? Maybe she's up the alleyway with her little girl. I decide to give it another ten minutes and if there's no sign of her then I'll head further up the alley to see if I can spot her there. Another fifteen minutes go by with still no sight of her I finally lose it. "Fuck this!"
RileyI shock myself with those words but the moment I say them, I know that I don't regret them. I mean every word and I may not have planned this to go this way but I don't care. I'm glad I said what I said. The sooner I get these two of the streets the better."Don't. Please, don't do that!" She pulls back from me letting go of my coat as she speaks and the saddest look covers her beautiful face. "Don't do what? I don't understand?" she gives me a disbelieving look but I'm still confused."It's mean to tease someone." I'm still confused. "You are fully aware that I don't have anything... have a home, yet you have it all and you're here just teasing me. Is this fun for you?" she starts getting angry again and so do I because clearly, she has had this done to her before. Clearly, someone has rubbed her unfortunate life in her face and that just pisses me off.I step in even closer to her filling in the small gap that she made when she pulled back from me and gently grip her chin maki
RileyI'm pissed! pissed, annoyed, upset, angry, and just plain fucking gutted! I didn't plan anything when I went to see Gemma... Julia tonight but still, I feel like a massive failure and just... fuck, I don't even know what I'm feeling right now.When she finally told me her real name, I felt my heart kick up a beat. Julia... such a beautiful name. I wonder what the little girl's name is. I doubt that she would tell me her real name and I can respect that, she has to protect her and I get it. Tonight was the closest that I have gotten to her and somehow she seemed even smaller than before but still absolutely perfect.Seeing her hurt angered me like never before. Why would anyone hurt her? Those men are sick bastards and if I ever get my hands on them I won't be responsible for my actions!"How's that whiskey treating you?" Josh sits on the empty bar stool next to me as I finish up my drink. My reply is a grunt because I don't know what to say, and don't want to talk but I know Jos
Nina "Momma, momma wake up!" The wind is so cold that my toes are hurting but my mom has got me so wrapped up that I don't feel it as much as I should. The wind got really scary and has broken our tent but my mommy laid over me to protect me and keep me safe because she's the best mommy in the whole wide world but now she's sleeping and I can't wake her up. I wiggle with all I have and keep calling her but she's not answering. Some of the other people who live here are sleeping too but the rest left here ages ago while mommy was laying over me. Finally, after lots of wiggling I manage to get out from under mommy. The wind isn't so windy anymore but she still won't wake up. "Mommy wake up! The wind has gone now, Mommy!" Why don't she listen? I'm scared and I'm cold and I just want my mommy to wake up! Maybe she's not well and that's why she's sleeping. She has told me before that if she's sleeping and I can't wake her up then I have to ask for help and now that it's happening, I'm ge
Riley "So what's going on then? Josh gives me a sheepish smile as he orders another round of drinks. "I'll take a soda" he nods as he alters the order and I once again sit my ass down on the bar stool. "Your mom Is going to see Julia." I go to stand up but he places his hand on my shoulder and pushes me back down. "Before you go and start a war just listen." I nod my head as I take a sip of my drink. Hell, I should have had a whiskey after all. "Fine. I'm listening." "Ok, so after you spoke to your mom and told her what happened she decided to go and speak to Julia. She's not going to try and pressure her to change her mind about you like you're a child don't worry. She's just going to see if Julia will accept any help from her. Your mom knows that she means a lot to you so she said that she was going to try and help her. I know it's not the same but at least if your mom can get her to accept some help you can know that she's ok and you never know maybe in time, she'll give you that
Riley For the first time today, I'm actually grateful for the snowstorm because it means less traffic and has allowed us to get to the hospital a lot quicker than normal. Once we are in there and Julia is taken away, Nina and I spent almost an hour waiting on news of her mom. It takes so long that by the time that the doctor has come to see us both my mom and Josh are here with us. "Are you the family of Julia?" I nod as I stand up. "Yes." I'm lying but I don't care, I need to know what's going on and now! "OK, so Julia is suffering from hypothermia. It's not as bad as it can get but still, she isn't very well and she will need to stay in for a while so we can monitor her. I am also concerned about her weight, she appears very underweight and it is something that we will need to address once she comes around." My mind whirls with the news even if I did suspect it already but at least she isn't as bad as she could be... small mercys and all that. "Is she awake yet?" "She is but she
Riley When Julia asked to see her daughter reality seemed to hit me hard In the gut. When I heard Nina's full name earlier it winded me. How can it be? This has to mean something surely, then again maybe it doesn't but it's too much of a coincidence not to. I leave her hospital room and head for the restroom, I don't even need to use the toilet but I just need a moment because right now I don't know what I'm feeling or thinking. In fact, I'm not even sure if what I'm thinking even makes sense. After I've splashed water on my face and given as myself a moment to pull myself together I head out of the restroom and down the corridor when just seconds after I leave the restroom my eyes spot a figure down the corridor. Instantly I know that It's Juia, and from what I could see, she is barely able to walk. What the hell is she up to? I want to run to her to find out what she's up to but I don't want to draw any attention to us so instead, I pick up my steps and quickly head her way. Th