collided

richard

Ah, Ricky Ramirez.

The boy who's racked up more misdemeanors and felonies than you can count on both hands. He's certainly no stranger to the juvenile justice system, so much so that sometimes he swore he spent more nights in the local police station than his own bed.

The only thing Richard felt he was good at in this world was being a thief, 'Dedos', they call him.

He isn't pulling out knives or beating on old people. He wasn't violent - he didn't have to be. Richard knew how to use the darkness of the night to his advantage. The slender teen learnt how to be stealthy, to sneak into houses so quietly that the family dog wouldn't even wake up. It's honestly impressive.

If he wanted it - he took it, and if that made him a criminal then so be it, that's how he'd chosen to survive. How else would he afford his drugs and prostitutes? Stealing had begun to feed addictions and yet became an addiction too.

Everyone who knew the high school dropout knows he only works at the Holiday Inn to steal. But his manager didn't need to know that, and certainly not the guests. Let's just say that the skeleton key was his best friend.

But he was so much more than the 19 year old delinquent from Ledo Street. Once a child with that mischievous grin and innocent eyes.

Sweet little Richie.

Unfortunately, it turns out it was those same innocent eyes that saw way too much. From the abusive father to the psychotic cousin - he never really had a chance at a normal life, and Richard knew that early on.
He couldn't change the cards he got dealt, he just learnt how to play the hand.

Richard tried to hide his deep insecurities with a cocky and arrogant attitude, but deep down he's a good kid. He's shy and awkward, he's funny and charming. At times he could be loving and kind. He was the type of boy to carry a girls books to class, or even walk her home from school.

And even though he will never admit to this, he wanted nothing more than to be loved himself.