Abandoned

And life goes on

3 months later

It's been 3 months. I've started showing. People already treat homeless people like absolute crap, but to be a pregnant teen while homeless? People always assume the worst. Emma and I have bonded, enough to say that she is one of the best friends I'll ever have. She has an interesting story to tell.

Emma was born on January 31st. She was an outcast, just like me, for her whole life. Even in preschool, the kids would pick on her. On March 23rd, Ava was born. Her parents had a harder time taking care of 2 children, since they both make minimum wage. On October 14, Liam and Noah were born. 2 more children caused their family to have to choose between bills, rent, and groceries. They were evicted on November 2nd. Their parents used to beg for money on the streets, but were never very successful. They took matters into their own hands, by stealing food, and other necessary essentials. This escalated to robbing houses, and not long after that, they were arrested. They said that they didn't have kids so that Emma, Ava, and the twins didn't get separated in foster care. They were given a 10 year sentence and are currently serving it. She and Ava were homeschooled, since the kids at Emma's school were giving her such a hard time, so they can't get an education now, and Liam and Noah are obviously too young to get an education. They've had it much harder than me.

•  •  •

I have no idea what the hell I'm going to do when this baby arrives. I can't just live on the streets with a baby, but it's not like I'm gonna find a place to stay either. I take a long time to think of a plan, but it comes to me. Now for me to tell Emma.

•  •  •

I walk up to her. She's in her favorite spot, the back right corner of the alley, right behind the dumpster. It's a good place for alone time.

"I think I have a plan." I say excitedly.

"Um," She says, "For what?"

"To get us out of this hell." I nearly shout, I'm so excited to tell her.

"And what is that?" She says, unimpressed. She's tried multiple times to get out of this hell.

"We can both get jobs," I start, "Obviously, they won't pay much, we'll only get minimum wage, but it's a start. We can work extra shifts for more money. We probably won't get a place to stay, but we'll have money for food, and we won't be surviving off of scraps."

"Do you have any idea how difficult it'd be to get a job?" She asks sarcastically, "Not only are we teenagers, we're homeless."

"I know," I agree, "But surely someone's gotta hire us."

"I'm not sure. I mean," She says, "Look at us!" She points to our dirty clothes, "It's not very likely."

"Alright." I say, "I'll make a deal with you. If I get a job, then you have to as well. I mean, it'd be much easier for you to get a job than me. I'm only fourteen, and you're sixteen! Deal?" I hold my hand out for her to shake it.

"Deal." She says, shaking my hand.