A Rose For You

The Two Roses

Running through the crowd on the wide sidewalk, I held a loaf of bread against my chest as I ran to get away from the local officers to retrieve what was stolen. The shouting of the police echoed in my ear but I kept my head down and dashed in to a dark narrow ally way that led to a forest where I stopped in my tracks at the end of the ally. Breathing heavily, I looked back to see that I've lost the police. I looked down at the loaf of bread I've stolen and felt bitter. Even though I was hungry from days without eating, I didn't want to take a bite of the bread that I've taken. I clenched my teeth and went back through the ally way and walked calmly in the crowd. I tugged on my black hood to cover my face and kept my head down. I glanced from side to side to spot a little girl in rags curled up in a small ball. She was sitting at a corner where no one was paying attention to. I casually walked by the starving little girl whom I presume was four years old and slid the loaf of bread in to her arms. She looked surprised to see the bread and looked up to give her gratitude but I blended back in to the crowd before she could see me. 

I saw the local police officers that were chasing me earlier but it seems they have forgotten me since I was a little petty thief to them. I walked right past one of them and they didn't even give me a second glance. That was the type of society I was walking through. Bumping in to the rich that wanted nothing but fresh fruit.  I made my way to the market once more and looked at the stores for signs that was crying for help.The complaints of not having the right thing at the right time filled the air and I just wanted to cover my ears from this negative world but that would mean I would miss those soft compliments that were rarely spoken ever so quietly. 

I looked up the sky that was usually clouded with its negative color. Turning the corner I saw a group of seemingly tough guys surrounding someone who looked weak comparing to them. No one noticed that a punch was thrown to a a middle aged man. Out of instinct I walked towards to the group of four not including the man they surrounded. I was only a few steps away when I noticed a metal pipe against a close by store. I snatched it from the small space it was taking a nap on and without another thought I slammed the pipe in to the side of the guy who was going to throw another punch. I swung the metal at the other three in the side. Throwing down the pipe to the side when I heard someone calling out for the police, I grabbed the man's arm and pulled him along with me. Luckily for me the stranger was fast on his feet and didn't sloe me down. We zig zagged through crowd noisy for two blocks when I dragged him to another narrow alley away that led to the forest. Once we went through the tight space I looked back to see the local police go straight past us. I pulled the stranger to the side where no one in the streets could point us out. The two of us took the time to take a breather because that chase was not easy. The soft breeze helped only a bit but our control of breath was still fast.

"What's your name young man?" the stranger asked when he finally caught his breath. 

I looked over to the stranger. He was wearing casual clothes. A grey shirt that was covered with a leather jacket and dark blue jeans. He had dirty blonde hair with hazel eyes. So I saved a local, that's good. 

I straightened up and folded my arms across my chest, "You first mister." 

His hazel eyes went wide when he heard my voice. So it shocked him that much to see that I was a female instead of a male. He cleared his throat and replied, "I'm Todd Cliffton. Now it's your turn." 

"Clover Green," I said. 

"Really?" he is easy to surprise.

I nodded, "My parents thought it was clever at the time."

"Where are your parents now?" he gave me a concerned look. 

"They died," I said then shot another question at him, "What was happening back there?"