Run

Part One | 12

Chapter 12

"When we decided to stay in New York, we knew from the start we weren't going to be staying at some high-class apartment. We knew we'd be making sacrifices, and that's exactly what happened. We were homeless the second we decided to stay. I was aware of that. I was aware of that the entire time I was wondering if not going to Colorado was a good idea."

"It scared the shit out of me. I knew that the second we decided to stay, I'd have to get a job, and we'd have to try and make it on our own by spending as little money as possible to survive. But we were stupid. We thought we knew what we were doing. We had no idea how expensive New York would actually be, even if it wasn't in Manhattan."

"It really showed us how naive we were and how we really needed to start thinking about back-up plans. At that time, we just had to make due with what we got so we ended up staying at a homeless shelter for a while. As neglected as I felt living with my dad, nothing could compare to being homeless in fucking New York City."

...

Marie and I slept on the streets of New York City for four nights before an older woman asked us if we knew about the homeless shelter just a few blocks east. I made sure that Marie had enough to eat everyday, but it was difficult finding a place to live.

Everywhere was expensive, and I had just barely enough to support us for a month in a rundown apartment. Marie didn't complain, which was shocking to me. In fact, she walked with me around New York as if it was normal, as if this was everything she had ever wanted.

When we got to the homeless shelter, we were grateful for the help we received. Marie and I had gone under different names and we had completely given false information when they asked about our lives. I wondered if that would get us into any governmental trouble, but once I had admitted to some of the staff that we weren't planning on staying long, they didn't seem to think much of it. Besides, they had real New Yorkers worry about anyway.

While we were eating dinner one night Marie couldn't help but stare at the woman across from her. She looked to be in her late thirties and with tired eyes and ratty hair. Next to her was a small boy.

"You sure stare a lot, girl," the woman abruptly said.

Marie continued to stare before looking at her soup. She hadn't touched it once since we sat down.

The woman leaned forward. "You alone?"

Marie tilted her head toward me. "I'm with my boyfriend."

The woman nodded. "What, no parents?"

Marie grimaced.

The woman huffed. "Lemme guess. You guys gonna be teen parents or somethin'?"

Marie scowled. "What of it?"

I placed a hand on her thigh to silently tell her to calm down.

The woman frowned and looked at her food. "That's too bad. You guys are too young to be parents."

Marie scoffed. "You don't know us."

"That's true." The woman glanced at her son. "Eat up, Billy."

I continued eating my soup as Marie stared at hers.

"Aren't you hungry?" I asked her. "You should eat."

Marie didn't reply. Instead, she got up and left. I figured she was going to the bathroom, though I watched her go until I could no longer see her.

"How old are you?" the woman asked me, causing me to turn my head towards her.

"I just turned twenty," I admitted, shifting in my spot.