Homeless To Hired

1//

Loren had been running for hours, her small body struggling to cope with the wild sprinting. She was quickly becoming exhausted and hungry too. Sodden with sweat and her legs almost giving way she slowed down. Her skin was bright red now and although it was freezing outside she felt hotter than the sun. She had to have run ten, fifteen, maybe even twenty miles today she thought to herself. But, how? Adreniline she corrected herself. She had her chance at freedom and nothing was going to stop her, not even her body, if, she could help it.

The long dark road seemed to last forever until a yellow glow became apparent in the star filled sky. She squinted trying to figure out what it was, or where she was.  It was McDonalds, a place she had heard of  but had never eaten food from.

She searched for money, her stomach rumbling firecely. She was walking now, and every step stung. A smile appeared across her face, McDonalds was empty. Of course, minus the staff patiently waiting behind the counters. 

Her was body acheing, she faught the door, she pushed hard, summoning all her strength she pushed again, was the door locked? Peering through the glass she noticed the staff laughing at her. Her face burned red, knowing they'd been watching her struggle. Her face burned in embaressment, not with anger. Loren rarely felt angry.

She heard an unfamilar male voice. "Oh honey you clutz, you pull the door," said the voice and her face normally pale burned red again, The stranger swiftly moved past her and pulled it open, gestering she walk in first. She slid past him every movement hurting.

"Thanks," she spoke in a small voice. 

"Oh sweetheart, are you okay? The stranger asked, his young face twisting, looking pained.

''You're bleeding!'' the young man shouted.

The stranger was tall, Loren guessed he was around 6'0, a giant compared to her. She looked to his face and upon closer inspection  she noticed that his eyes were entirely different colors.  His left eye was green and his right blue, how unsual she thought. Seconds later she was aware that he was now touching her leg, normally she would jump a mile, but something about this man calmed her. Loren looked closer at her leg, it was covered in blood. She blinked hard, how had she hurt herself without even feeling it? Adreniline her brain told her again. The stranger  gentley wrapped his scarf around the deep cut sitting just above her ankle, it wasn't deep enough for stitches but, it definitely needed dressed. ''Im Caleb,'' he said with a voice more gentle than his touch.

''Im gonna have to tie this tighter,'' he grimiced, offering her a slight smile.

''What's your name?'' he asked  

Loren didnt answer, she way too embarrassed, she knew she had to keep moving.She didn't time for making friends, she didn't have time for conversation. She began to panic, and couldnt find words. "Tell you what honey bee I'll get you something to eat and something to drink, is a coffee and a chicken sandwich okay?"

Loren nodded yes, she needed to save money. Confusion invaded her brain, moments ago she was telling herself she didn't have time for making friends. It was as if her mouth were glued shut, she couldn't say no. Who said they both had to be friends afterwards? He was merely a kind hearted stranger helping a person in need. Soon, she felt guilty here she was taking advantage of this very kind stranger without having the decency to speak more than two words. She would thank him and sit down with him for a few minutes, her body needed the rest anyway.

She needed to clean her leg up so she wondered towards the bathrooms across the slippy, newly cleaned floors. She lifted the heavy bag off her aching shoulder where a huge red mark had appeared in it's place. She set it down, catching a glimse of herself in the mirror. She looked seriously Ill.Her hair hanging out from the neat bun she had tied earlier.Her face was still bright red. She rubbed her eyes, the deep purple bags under her eyes couldnt be more noticible. After painfully hauling herself up onto the jap between the two sinks she cleaned the dried blood from her leg, wincing slightly  as neared the sore areas, scraped her hair back and splashed water on her warm sweaty face.