I Just Want to be Loved

Cause and Effect

When I woke up, I was in an alleyway. I was a fifth awake, and four fifths asleep. It hurt to move, and I didn’t even have enough energy to even turn over. Everything was so sore.

It looked to be about noon, and I could hear the sounds of a busy city. Well, the sounds of a city, and a crying baby.

“Danny,” I croaked, and turned my head to look for him. He was about ten feet away, and was lying by the alley wall. Surrounding him, were my clothes, and my suitcase.

I knew what had happened to me, but I didn’t want to come to terms with it. I didn't want to believe what had happened to me.

“Is that a baby?” I heard someone ask.

“I think it is,” someone else responded.

I saw two figures walk into the alley, but I was about seventy feet down, and it wasn’t very well lit.

“Where is it?” one of them asked.

“Probably farther down,” the other one replied and I saw them jogging down.

“Oh my god!” one gasped when he saw me. His friend picked up Danny and then they both ran to me and kneeled down. “Phil, call nine one one.”

The boy who was holding Danny, Phil, pulled out his phone and started talking.

“Here,” the other one said and went and grabbed my shirt. He helped me sit up, and he put it on me. Then he grabbed my pants and did the same. “What’s your name?” he asked.

“Brittany,” I said. It came out more like ‘Brightny,’ but he understood.

“I’m Derek, and this is Phil. You’re going to be okay, do you understand?” I nodded slowly, and then I fell sideways and everything went black.

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*****

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When I woke up again, I was in a hospital room. The two boys from the alleyway were in the chairs in the room, and they were asleep.

“Hi,” I croaked, and slowly sat up. The boys didn’t move. I looked around the room and saw a glass of water on the table by my bed, so I took a drink. “Hi,” I said again, this time my voice was normal.

Phil woke up and then hit Derek in the chest. “You’re awake,” Derek said shocked.

“No shit Sherlock,” I replied sarcastically.

“Yeah, no shit Sherlock,” Phil mocked Derek.

“How long have I been out?” I asked running a hand through my hair.

“About a day,” Derek replied.

“Really?” I asked.

“Yeah,” Phil said. “Wait, should we get a nurse?”

“Probably,” Derek told him and Phil jogged out of the room.

“Where’s Danny?” I asked suddenly when I realized that the baby was nowhere in sight.

“Ummmmm, well, the police took him,” Derek said slowly.

“What!” I yelled and then started hyperventilating. The thoughts of all the reasons that they would have taken him filled my mind.