𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 , 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬

one.

MADELINE WINSTON

a car passes me by every minute or so, lighting up my black converse with their bright headlights. it's sometime after midnight, and i just got off a train in tulsa, oklahoma.

i decided to run away from my home, new york city, after seeing my father get murdered right before my eyes. it's all i could do—go to the next state i know my last family member is in, so that's what i've done.

i got out of the city before social services could even tell me i'm going to be placed under the custody of my older brother. unfortunately, i'm sure they will track me down sooner or later just to tell me what i already know.

my beaten up jacket is the only thing keeping me the slightest bit warm in this fall weather. for the first time tonight, a car and i are heading down the street at the same speed. i don't think anything of it until the car's window is rolled down and a guy leans his head out.

"what's a fine broad like you doin' out here alone at a time like this?" he slurs his words together.

i keep my eyes forward and a bored tone in my voice, "walking until i find a place to crash."

"oh, baby! crash with me tonight, i'll keep you warm." he chuckles as if he thinks he's the funniest man on earth.

i look over at him as he turns to his friend who's driving the car, "pull over."

his friend listens, pulling up to the curb beside me. the tires begin to roll slower at the same time my heart begins to beat faster.

i'm stopped in my tracks on the edge of the sidewalk as the two young men step out of the car. i squeeze my arms tight over my chest as they approach me.

"you look cold." he almost trips over the curb. "you wanna take a sip, sweetheart?" i take notice of his curly hair and silver rings on his fingers for the first time as he holds his flask of alcohol in front of my face.

he steps in front of me, preventing me from walking around him, "take a sip."

out of fear, i listen. he brings the flask to my lips and tilts it until the strong liquid pours into my mouth.

he drunkenly smiles, "ah, the girl can drink, what do you know! you're better than my girlfriend, you know that?"

"come on, bob, let's go." his friend calls out from the hood of his car.

"come with us—"

"get lost." i tell him.

bob looks taken back by my abrupt words. he shifts the flask in between his pointer and middle finger before his hands find my hair.

i slap his touch away.

"bob, come on." his friend says once more, but bob doesn't listen to him. instead, he uses his strength to shove me toward the car with him.

"you said you're looking for a place to crash, i'll give you one."

i grab his arm, trying to pry his hand away from the side of my neck, but my back is slammed against his friend's car.

his alcohol splashes on to my hair, causing a familiar scent to travel through my nose and up to my brain.

he looks at me, face inches from mine as he holds his jaw tight and breathes heavily out his nose, "what did you say?"