Selina Kyle | The Beginning

7

      It had been four weeks since Selina had spoken to Harleen, it was now the beginning of December. Selina hadn't had the courage to visit the plant store in fear that the girl would ask too many questions about her life. The last thing she needed was embarrassment. Selina sat on the roof of the Ace Chemicals building thinking about Sarah Carastep, If I hadn't gone to help her, if I'd have been to late he- Selina shook the thought from her mind. Ever since she returned Sarah home she couldn't help but think about her. Selina felt like she needed to protect her from harms way, she wanted to speak to her again, but knew that she was a bad influence for Sarah. That girl needs a better role model. Secretly, Selina had tried saying a prayer for Sarah every night, asking God to protect her from harms way, and to gift her with a happy childhood. Selina wasn't really sure how or if praying actually worked, but she saw her mother speak to this “God” often, and hoped that he was really listening. Since she couldn't speak to Sarah, Selina decided she could still check up on her every now and then, and here she was, sitting on top of the Ace building, waiting for the coast to be clear. When the street was clear, Selina jumped down from the building, landing on a large and heavy trash bin. She slid off the metal and landed on her feet, like she always did. She climbed up Sarah's apartment building and up to Sarah's small metal porch. Selina looked into the only window to Sarah's apartment and into her kitchen.

      The large clock read 8:15 AM and Selina watched as Sarah's mother cooked bacon over the stove. Smells yummy. Selina ducked down as she heard the pitter-patter of small feet running into the room. Sarah patiently waited by her mother's side with a wide smile. Her mother bent over to her daughters height and Sarah planted a quick kiss on her mother's cheek. She then hurried herself to the kitchen table, she was too short to have any more than her head show over the table. Seeing Sarah again brought a small but meaningful smile to Selina's face. Now knowing that Sarah was okay was weight lifted off her shoulders. Selina stole one last glimpse at the cheery girl and then hurried herself down the building before a neighbor caught her sneaking around. The little girl was being fed, she was being loved, and that was all that mattered. Seeing that warmed her heart but also broke a piece off of it, she put her hand to her chest hoping it would ease the ache. To be loved, she now knew, was all she wanted. If someone loved me, if I had just one person on my side...

      Selina shook her head and lightly ran away from Sarah's building until she was a good three blocks away. She wanted something to distract her from her feelings, but what? Selina walked to Gotham Plaza, the heart of the city. This was always the place where social gatherings and celebrations were held. Selina watched as some men on a machine put up sparkling star decorations and as town workers spread string lights across store fronts. The lights were so beautiful here, Selina didn't usually attend the city Tree Lighting Celebration, but she knew that in this part of town, no matter how bad the crime, they made it beautiful. This wasn't as beautiful as North Gotham, but many important businesses and landmarks were located here, making it a hotspot for all of Gotham.

   Selina knew of Christmas. She knew it involved spending time with family, but not much else, and decided it'd be best to stay away from it. Though all the decorations made it hard to ignore, seeing lights that weren't for advertising were rare in Gotham, and so pretty against fresh snow. Selina pictured the first snow of the season, she hoped it wouldn't snow too much this winter, but enough to leave footprints and play with her cats in. She continued her walk along the busy streets of Gotham plaza until she saw someone in the crowd she recognized. The boy from weeks ago whom she'd saved from a group of bullies was speed walking with his head down. She could tell it was him by his strange and tattered clothing, she ran to catch up to him. She pushed through the crowd but also kept her distance, she followed him until he turned into one of the shops. Selina looked up at the store sign that read, “Jervis' Jolly Good Books”, But Selina could only make out, “Good Books” because she didn't know how to pronounce the rest. She waited on a bench in front of the store and it wasn't long before the boy came out. He put a small, but thick, book into the pocket of his beat-up-too-big-jeans and was about to hurry along until Selina stepped in his way. She flashed a smile and said, “I know you.”. He blushed and seemed scared by her appearance. He took two steps back from her and said, “Oh, hello.” and continued on with his walk. Does he think he's getting away from me that easily? She caught up to him and studied the movement of his feet so she could fall into the same pace as him.