I looked up at the sky and all I could see was the pitch black night. The clouds floated in the sky, and covered the moon. The only light that was revealed was the stars in the midnight sky. The cold dampness of the air brushed against my face. I knew there was a storm coming. I needed to take shelter and fast if I was going to at least try to stay warm. I wandered for a few hours until I found the perfect spot to sleep, and that’s when I felt a cold drop of something on my head. I looked up in a trance and there coming down from the sky was rain.

Along an alley way, there were two dumpsters side by side. Not thinking of anything but sleep, I quickly began to work on forming a place to sleep for the night. The only thing I had with me were the clothes I had on ,a backpack that I had stocked up with food at a teen center the night before , a box cutter and a small bottle of water. I had to make a place to sleep. I found an old card board box in one of the dumpsters beside me and began to cut it in half with the box cutter. I laid one part of the box down to lay on, and the other I intended to use to cover my body from getting too wet and cold. As I lay down for the night, the smell of rotten pizza, eggs and trash were almost unbearable. I thought surely it couldn’t be as bad as me since I hadn’t had a shower in almost a week.

The storm settled and I was soon asleep, but not for long. I was awoken by a snarling growl that seemed like it was right next to me, However there were banging noises that seemed so far off in the distant, and sounded as if it were guns going off by a circus. Soon to follow there were blazing sirens that sped through the main roads. There was loud music coming from down the street like someone having a party. The hope of getting to sleep seemed almost impossible. Soon enough I began dreaming of what it would be like to have a home with a loving family who cares about me.

Out of my dead sleep I was awoke by laughter of what sounded like older men. Their Footsteps creeping, closer and closer to me. I started to sweat, my heart was pounding. I lay motionless. I didn’t dare look up; the thought of what I might face haunted me. I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed that they might just pass by and go about their way. I was wrong, the moment that I thought the coast was clear was the same moment I thought was the end of my life. I peeked out of the corner of where I lay and one of the men stood over me. I lay speechless for that moment and just stared up and was waiting for something to come next. The men screeched at me to get up, I did as I was told to do. I was trembling as though my socks were going to escape my feet.

I didn’t dare look at any of them in the eyes, but I knew there were about five of them by how many different voices I heard. I felt shameful, scared and nervous. I wanted to run and hide, but it was like my feet were glued to the wet ground. I got enough courage to look up at the man in front of me. I was instantly knocked to the ground. My face throbbed in pain. I felt the rising of my eye, it was swelling up and I knew it. Then came more pain in my sides. I tried to scream but all that came out was a small squeak as the breath of air was beat out of my lungs. I tasted the warm bitterness of iron in my mouth. I looked at my hands and they were covered in red I knew it was my blood. Fear filled my body, I didn’t know what to do, I was only fourteen years old. I ached and moaned in pain. I cried for my life to be spared, but something in me knew it was only the beginning.

There was a loud horn sound that spread across the neighborhood. The men froze in terror; they looked at me lying on the ground and darted away in opposite directions. I looked up at the sky and there was a bright warm light peeking through at me. I knew it was time to get up and move on to the next destination. I used the only water I had left to wash my crusty red hands and face. I threw the card board into a dumpster and picked up my things and threw my backpack over my shoulder. I started to walk again and plan for the next day ahead, I knew it was going to be a long one