FIRST WALK

VERA'S POV

"Honk… Honk…" The loud horn travelled through my ear drums. The shock drove me off the bus seat. I landed on the floor.

"We're here kid!" He said pounding on the side of the bus.

The noise added more distress to my disoriented state. My eyes twitched, like they were still trying to come awake.

Grunting, I blew the strands of hair covering my eyes off my face.

"Come on kid," he yelled again.

"I'm coming," I yelled back, sinking my fingers into the seat for stability as I managed to rise to my feet.

I moved gently, my foot scraping against the bus floor, with my tiny sack held up against my shoulders and the package Madam Rose gave me in my other hand.

"Hurry up kid, we don't have a lifetime. This area isn't safe."

My eyes widened. Did he just say dangerous? "Why then are you leaving me here?" I said out loud.

"Tsh…Tsh…Tsh…He flicked his tongue against his teeth.

"You poor thing," he said , chuckling.

"Well I don't have enough fuel to take you to that address, I only have enough fuel to take me home to my wife and kids. Or do you have money?" He smirked mockingly, showing the side of his teeth.

"I don't have money, but please," I said, stuttering.

"Nuh uhh, please nothing."

"But the orphanage, they paid you?"

"Please… Help me."

"You scummy people, didn't pay anything."

I fell silent, trying to hide one foot behind the other.

"My thoughts exactly," He said, his face twisted in disgust.

"Who birth all of you kids?" He burst into laughter.

"Now get down from this bus kid or I'll throw you off."

"I'm not a kid," I said storming out of the bus.

"What, are you an adult?"

"Yes, I'll be 20 soon," I said boldly, lifting my head up.

He burst into laughter, before zooming off. I could hear his laughter watching the car travel into the distance.

A cold wind blew over me, recalling what he said about this area.

"I need to leave here, but where do I go from here?" Bringing out the tiny note Emelda gave me, I glanced at it one last time before finally squeezing it into my palms.

"Waltwit street, block 15." Looking up to the sky I could tell it was going to get dark soon.

My legs trailed the road forward, just in a file, I kept on walking. The further I walked, the more my feet hurt. Sweat gathered around my temples as they dropped to the ground smoothly.

The sun was going down and so was my energy. This place looked deserted with only cars blowing past in a sequence of ten minutes. I looked back frequently, praying a car won't just wipe me off the road as my steps were rapidly slow.

"Finally!" I yelped at the sight of people. The sight of people buzzing in and out of every corner made my heart light up.

I walked around the busy crowd and I realized I was the only one walking on the main road and not the sidewalk, which looked a bit more safe because it felt like I was going to be knocked down any second.

"Hmmm," I placed one foot on the sidelane and then the other. Pacing forward, it indeed felt safe as I didn't have to look neither front nor back all the time.

"Move…" A lady shouted, startling me away from my thoughts. I swayed to the side giving her room. "So I have to be mindful of people too?" I pouted my lips in certain annoyance, without raising my eyes to see the direction I walked through.

"Ouch…" I was stunned back to the present, raising my head to see that I had hit a pole. I placed my hand on my pulsating forehead and I squinted, pulling my hand away as it really hurt so bad.

I inhaled sharply, before continuing my walk. It got darker and indeed the city shone so bright, brighter than it was even. My eyes hovered, taking a note of every shiny sign and amazing scene.

Feeling the hurt of my soles, I curled them up, my face twisted. Looking up, I saw a green median field,immediately spotting a bench where people sat.

I wanted to go but it was across the streets. "Sigh," I kept on walking forward but a certain aroma made me drool out of my senses. Sniffling like a cat, I squealed in excitement as my nostrils got stuffed with that delicious aroma. My feet led me to a stop in front of the most colorful building made of glass.

Different aromas burst through my soul, as I felt my stomach growled. "Taco's and Taste." I read the sign, like I would be rewarded for it. My eyes pierced through the glass like a suction tool, I placed my hand on the glass, letting my face stick to it.

"Yummy," My tongue poked out the corner of my mouth at the sight of a man biting through his meal.

My stomach growled again pulling me back to reality. Searching my pockets vigorously, "Not even a penny," I muttered.

Finally walking away faced down, I threw my legs away as far as they could reach slowly to cover up more distance. But was taken aback when I heard my name.

"Vera!" My eyes lit up, as a wide smile cut through my face without any warning. I turned like a swirly princess who just had her dreams come through. I ran towards the sound of the voice as it came again.

"You came…" I wanted to scream Emelda's name, telling her I was here and ran into her arms. But to my greatest shock.

I stood frozen at the sight before me, my bright eyes suddenly went dim as my heart clenched forcing me to sniffle.

The sight of a mother chasing her youngling through the busy street of the night.

"Vera!" She called out again. "Stop running or mummy won't get you ice cream."

The little girl giggled as she came to a stop. "Okay mummy, can I have my ice cream now?" she asked innocently.

"Yes," the lady said, picking her up.

I stood still, watching the beautiful scene unfold, unaware of a tear drop already trailing my face. My hand felt my suffocating chest, clutching my dress.