Winter has always been cruel to us, street kids but it has never been like this. This year it was different it had snowstorms and hail. I have never seen a winter so violent that not only did it crack the soles of my feet it also cracked my soul. I barely had clothes that covered me enough to keep the wondering eyes of men on the streets away. I can feel it again, eyes on me, every day at nightfall I feel them at the back of my head. sometimes it makes me nervous and anxious sometimes it just excites me to have someone watching me, makes me feel like I matter to someone, like there’s someone who would miss me if I’m gone. I don’t have many friends I’m a loner, I mean let’s face it I don’t have much of a choice on these streets, either you become someone’s bitch or get into prostitution. I’m not trying to act better than everyone her or do I think I’m better but that’s just not what I want with my life. I know everyone here doesn’t want to be here and none of us got a choice, I’m just not trying to beer comfortable and forget the main goal which is to get out of here. Hi, I’m Maya, I’m 18 years old and I just got kicked out of the orphanage 2 months ago and I have been trying to get into college, but I don’t have money or a job or anything. all my life’s savings were stolen at the orphanage, I used to keep my things in a box under the bed. I know I know it wasn’t the safest place, but I didn’t have much of a choice or anywhere else to put it. I got fired at my waitressing job and my boss refuses to recommend me because I refused to sleep with him. So since then, I have been living on the street and my life is pretty much a shit show. On the streets I have been approached by several guys who have tried and coerce me into prostitution in exchange for a nice meal and protection. some even went as far paying people to attach me so that I Can be afraid and run to them but I’m a determined girl and I’m not going to place my future into the hands of a junkie or a pimp.