24th of December
Gale stared at the busy streets, her stomach churned and she knew she should eat something, but she didn't move. She stared.
She is an American girl living in London. She moved here because she heard stories of the spectacular view from London's Eye and how the Big Ben stood tall and strong and you had to tilt your head up to be able to see it all. She moved here because she heard little stories about the great London.
But mostly she was now in England because she heard the streets were paved with gold.
They weren't. She'd know, after all she's living on them.
Her hands weren't as dirty as one would think, she visits the gasoline shop quite regularly, where she locks herself in the bathroom and scrubs all the filth off her. Washing her face, her hands and rubbing her teeth with clean towels, to take off the residue of the little food she eats.
Quite honestly, she liked her life. She liked watching the people run around the streets, laughing with their friends, some stopping to throw a snowball in an unsuspecting comrade. She liked the lovers holding hands, nestling in each other's arms, nuzzling for warmth or the ones that talk animatedly, waving their hands around in the air, staring admiringly at their lover.
She mostly loved seeing the kind ones. The ones that stop and ask her if she wants anything or the ones that start searching through their pockets for some money as they pass her, smiling guiltily at her if they couldn't find any.
She liked those kinds of people, and she liked watching them.
What she hated about her life, though was the rolling emptiness of her stomach or the looks some people throw her, full of disgust and hate.
Even if it broke her heart, Gale never gave up trying to be nice to everyone.
Gale was strong.
So she wrapped the blanket, which she once found lying on the streets, tighter around her and struggled to stop her shivering.
It was December and Gale hates the cold winters most. Of course, she loves the white snow and how the snowflakes tickle when they fall on her face but the coldness... the coldness ruined it.
A normal person would've given up till now. On a happy life.
But to Gale, hope was all one could ever need. It filled her heart and stomach and suddenly she couldn't feel her hunger anymore or it burst in her mind and suddenly she felt like singing and dancing, with her torn clothes and un-combed hair. To Gale, hope was everything.
So she huddled even closer in her filthy brown blanket, resting her back against the grey brick wall behind her and closing her eyes.
Gale couldn't help but think that hope will save her. That hope saves everything.
And everyone.
× × ×
When Gale woke up the sun was reflected in the snow, glowing a bright white that momentarily blinded her.
It must be noon, she thought.
In the Christmas Eve's noon no one is roaming the streets, it is then when Gale feels most lonely.
So she turned her head up and brought her knees to her chest, preparing herself for the next hours of hollow quietness.
But then she heard a noise, a girl's voice humming to an unknown song. Gale didn't bother looking for the sound, even if it was unexpected, it wasn't weird or strange or worth her curiosity. She tangled her arms around her knees and waiting for the girl to pass, steeling herself for the nothingness that would tumble back.
