Julia
"Momma, I'm cold." I wrap the blanket even tighter around Nina, but I can still feel her shivering and it's killing me. The blanket is well-used and not very thick, but I found it in a dumpster last week, and even though it is covered in stains, it's still better than nothing. "I know, baby." I need to find her warmer clothes, but it's hard. I know many places don't throw out clothes anymore, they usually end up in charity shops and I can't even afford that.
"Helen, would you mind Nina for a little while? I'm going to go treasure hunting." she gives me her motherly smile as she opens up her arms for Nina to get comfy on her lap. There are a couple of children in our group and, despite the harsh reality of their lives, we try and keep as much as possible away from them, so when one of us is going out to pinch we call it treasure hunting.
"I will be as quick as I can. Nina, you make sure you listen to Helen." she gives me a kiss and nods, then turns away from me as Helen starts telling her a story. I do a quick check to see if anyone needs anything before heading down the alleyway. It's freezing cold and not very dark, but I still have to chance it. I don't want to make Nina wait any longer than she has to.
We lost Trevor two nights ago. He was in his late 60s and a true gentleman. Unfortunately, he had been homeless for over 30 years and this harsh winter was finally too much for him. We woke up in the morning to him dead, and it's broken all of our hearts, but he wouldn't want us mourning his loss, he would want us to carry on and that's what I'm going to do.
Just as I'm coming to the entrance of the alleyway, I get the worst pain in my stomach and dread sets over me. "Fuck!" I know that feeling. I've just got my period, which is fine, but I used the last of my supplies last month, and they are a fucking nightmare to pinch. There's no getting them out of dustbins, so it's always a risk when I go into a shop for them, but what can I do? I have no choice, not unless I don't want to use anything. Unfortunately, it's something that I've had to do several times, but I don't have enough changes of underwear to be able to ruin them too quickly.
I turn up the sidewalk and slump down on a bench outside the local bakery. My stomach rumbles from the smell alone, but I ignore it. I need to get Nina's needs taken care of, and then maybe I can get myself more supplies. Before I get up, I take a moment to look around at all the people around me. Some of them rush around while on their phones, while others are laughing and joking while enjoying some shopping, and others are without a care in the world. What I wouldn't give for that feeling for just a few moments.
Three hours later and I feel like crying. All I've managed to find is a pair of thermal socks and a hat which will help Nina, but it's just not enough. I don't know where else to look, so instead, I decide to head back and give this stuff to her, and then I'll come back out once she's sleeping and try and find more stuff and, hopefully, something for myself, because using tissues isn't a long-term plan for me.
As I cross the sidewalk, I walk past one of the local charity shops and stop in my tracks when I see that the place is full of children's clothes, including coats and boots. How I wish I could get Nina some. I step closer to the window to look some more when I notice that the place appears empty. There are no customers and no one behind the till. Maybe whoever is working is out the back?
"Don't do it, Julia, don't steal from a charity shop." It's something that I've always stood by. How can I steal from people in need when I'm one myself? I go to walk away when I hear Nina's voice in my head crying because she is so cold and, without realizing it, I step inside the shop and walk straight to the children's clothes.
I look around again and still don't see anyone. "Fuck it!" I have to do this for Nina. I quickly grab a coat, jumper, and a pair of boots, then pretty much run for the door. "STOP!" Shit! I come to a sharp stop when I hear a woman's voice and feel my whole body tense up. I'm in trouble here, deep fucking trouble. Fuck!
Riley
I turn the heaters up higher in my car. Just sitting here gets cold and despite telling myself to go home and forget about this madness, I still don't. If I'm not driving around, then I'm sitting here watching and waiting...
It's been three weeks since I last saw her. I've only seen the girl twice, and yet she's been in my head every day since... every fucking night since. I don't understand any of this, and yet I find myself looking around downtown New York for her every night after work.
I meet so many beautiful women daily and get offered whatever I want several times while out at the club, but since the first time that I saw her, when Bruno almost ran her down, none of those other women has been an interest to me. None of them have done anything for me, but still, I don't understand why I'm so interested in seeing her again.
I go between driving around downtown New York and parking up near the crosswalk and Carlos, both places where I have seen her, but I've not seen her near any of those places since. Something tells me that this girl doesn't have much in life. Each time I have seen her she has been untidy and not very clean, and yet her beauty has blown me away both times. I've even had thoughts of her being homeless, but I've pushed those aside. There's no way she's homeless. She's so small and petite that I can't imagine that she could survive on these streets. Fuck I hope she isn't.
"Fuck, this... this is nuts!" I usually work late several times a week to keep on top of everything, but with me spending every night out here, I'm falling behind, so I'm going to cut this bullcrap short tonight and get my ass home and get some paperwork done. I push the button and listen as my car roars to life. I quickly join the madness that is the traffic just as my phone starts ringing in the car, the name flashing across the screen making me smile.
"Hi, Mom."
"Hi, baby boy." Yes, I'm 27 but still, my Mom calls me her baby boy daily.
"Is everything OK, Ma?"
"Yes, baby. I was just wondering if you were anywhere near the shop. Your father has got caught up in a meeting, and he drove me in today, so I have no car. It's no problem if you are not around. I just thought I'd check before I called Roger."
"I'm actually just a few minutes away. I'll come now and help you lock up ."
"Thank you, son. See you soon. Love you."
I love you, Mom, bye."
I end the call and make a sharp left to head towards the shop. My parents are financially stable, and my mom hasn't had to work in years, but she gets bored and doesn't want to live the whole wag lifestyle, so instead, she opened up a charity shop that raises money for soldiers with PDST. It's a cause that is close to my family's hearts, and it keeps her busy.
Fortunately, I find a space right outside and quickly head inside to get out of the cold. This place is constantly full of stock and my mother takes great pride in keeping the place organized and clean.
I can't see my Mom anywhere, which can only mean that she must be out the back. I don't know how many times I've told her not to go out the back when she's on her own here. God knows who could walk in here and steal stuff or worse, but the woman doesn't listen.
"Hey, Mom. What have I sai-" The moment I open the door to the small office, I swear my fucking heart stops. My Mom is sitting in a chair while another girl sits next to her and it's her... it's the girl that I've been looking for. What is she doing here? How? And why the fuck is she crying?
Julia I turn to face the woman and for a moment I am thrown. The woman looks to be in her late 40s and she is absolutely beautiful. She has red hair pulled back in a bun and bright green eyes, she has a beautiful dress on but her clothes along with her jewelry scream money. However, she works in a charity shop, so there could be more to it. "Yes?" that's all I say. I am standing here with stolen property in my hands and that's all I can come out with. "Miss, I think you may have forgotten to pay for those items, but not to worry, it can happen. How about we head to the counter and get you checked out?" she smiles, and it feels like her smile alone could light up the entire place and her expression is warm and motherly, which makes me sad for a moment. She knows full well that I wasn't planning on paying, and yet she's giving me a chance to correct my behavior, without any judgment and God knows I wish I could do as she asks. I felt bad stealing these clothes before, but now afte
Riley Seeing her here was such a shock to me, but to find out that not only had she stolen clothes but that she had stolen clothes for a child, well, that just blew me away. The stuff that she stole came to a total of $11, so if she can't pay for them, fuck things must be bad for her. I've tried all I can to get her to talk to me and so has my Mom, but she won't. She won't tell us a Goddam thing, and now I'm pissed! So fucking pissed! She's lying to us about her name. I know she is, and she won't tell us why she has done this. Even when I threatened her with the cops, she didn't waver. We rarely have anyone steal from here. It's a charity shop after all, but it does happen. Usually, when it happens, the threat of me calling the cops is enough to get them talking, but not this time. I don't do it to be a dick. I do it to get them talking because if there's one thing that I've learned since my Mom opened this shop, it is that if someone steals from here, they are usually desperate an
Julia I'm still so ashamed that I was caught stealing from a charity shop and I swear the moment that he walked in I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole. I know that a man like him would never be interested in someone like me, but that doesn't mean that I can't daydream about it on the cold sleepless nights that I often face. However, after my antics today, even I'm going to struggle to daydream about him wanting me after what he saw. Despite all my mixed emotions, the look on Nina's face when I got home with a coat, jumper, and boots for her made every single embarrassing moment worthwhile. After being caught once today, I'm not up for any more stealing, so I'm staying here tonight with Nina and the others rather than going out on my usual nightly hunt. Thankfully, I managed to get a large amount of food last night, and we've kept enough for everyone to be able to eat tonight. Well, everyone except for me... I won't eat tonight. I'd rather keep my potion for tomorrow.
RileyIt's been three days since I last saw her, only three days, and yet it feels like it's been forever. She's constantly on my mind. It doesn't matter what I'm doing, whether it's running my many businesses or working out in the gym or even at the club with Josh, she never leaves me, and it's playing with my head.Josh and I hit the club last night as the asshole part of me tried to convince myself that I just needed to get laid, but of course, the moment a woman come on to me, I had absolutely no interest in her and, I shit you not, she was everything that I usually look for in a one night stand and yet, I couldn't get further enough away from her which has pretty much summed up what I already knew, but just didn't want to admit.And so that's why I'm currently sitting in my car with the entrance to the alleyway in full view, hoping and praying that she will come out of there and that I can catch a glimpse of her and... Well, I don't really have a plan yet, I just know that I need
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