Run

Part One | 13

Chapter 13

"I... Saw us on the news once. Marie and me. I thought we'd be caught. I thought I'd lose her forever... I considered calling someone. I considered going back, but she and I had made it so far. We had our own place in lower Manhattan. It wasn't all that nice or anything, but we got there. We did!"

...

By October, Marie and I had completely left the homeless shelter shortly after the staff began asking for personal information. Too worried that we'd be caught and the police would be notified and take us back to Massachusetts, Marie and I left, stealing a few supplies on the way.

We didn't leave completely unprepared. I had met a guy named Roberto who was in and out of the shelter. After telling him that I couldn't give out information about myself, he helped me figure some things out.

He told me I could still work with construction and that the state wouldn't have to know who I really am for me to be paid. He told me where I could live and avoid getting in trouble with the police. He even told me how I could avoid the cops altogether in the city, and that if I ever ran into trouble, I could introduce myself to his friend named Hector. 

When Marie and I left the shelter, we took the subway and found ourselves heading to the Projects. With the money from the shelter, we were able to put a down payment on a one bedroom apartment in lower Manhattan. 

For as shitty of an apartment as it was, it was still pretty amazing. In fact, we could see the Twin Towers perfectly. But we didn't have anything. Aside from the only bedroom, there was also a plain living room, and an incredibly small kitchen. Our apartment was completely and entirely empty. There was no refrigerator, something I knew I'd have to save up for. There was no bed, not like there would be one. The wallpaper was ripped in some places, there were stains almost everywhere. But it was enough. We weren't on the streets like how we'd been earlier. We were better. We were making it. 

Barely.

When Marie and I had finally showered, we gathered all our clothes and went to the nearest laundromat to wash them. Only until we lived there did I realize how much we really didn't bring. 

It was all the little things: pillows, extra socks, more shoes, toothbrushes, an extra coat, more pajamas, shampoo, a razor, all these things! All these things that you take for granted, sometimes they're so crucial to how you live. I'm not gonna lie, it really humbled me. I was suddenly grateful that my dad had taken... somewhat care of me. I was grateful that Gale took me in. And I was angry at myself for not noticing it all until now.

"What are you thinking about?" Marie asked as she sat atop the counter in the laundromat.

I looked up at her. Her hair was a complete mess. 

A hair brush.

"Nothing," I replied.

I looked at her stomach. It was getting bigger. Soon it would be really big. 

Double the amount of food.

"I feel gross," Marie admitted.

"Do you need to... Uh-"

She gave me a dirty look. "No."

Lately, Marie's been experiencing what they called "Morning Sickness." In which case for her it's more like "Afternoon Sickness." She always gets sick and crabby around this time. 

"Are you hungry?"

She nodded. "Kind of."

I stuffed my hand into my pocket and mentally counted how many dollars I had. Not much.