Chapter1
Inhaling the musty smell of the street of skid row nestled within downtown of Los Angeles officially known as central city east,a place popularly known for homelessness and poverty , I knew just then I was going to have yet another tacky day, growing up all by myself in the cold hands of abusive foster parents, moving from one orphanage to another I decided to end it all by running away from my last foster trip,as funny as it may sound, I'd rather die as a street child than go through hell in the name of adoption. A short intro about myself,my name is Alitzel Cassian,24 years old, people say I have a killer body but I really don't care,all I have to do is survive. I lost my parents to the cold hands of death from a fatal accident I was the only survivor,since then I've had to live all by myself,I have just a friend Maria,the only person that knows all about me, we've both passed through hell but we believe with time everything will be over, haven't really had people talk or associate with me,maybe it's because people think I'm a psycho,not like I care I don't need them as well, shaking off those thoughts I headed out to for my morning shift at the grocery store up the street where I part time with Maria in the morning, speaking of which I guess I'm about to get into another trouble with Ms Em,the store owner, damn! there's no single day I've been able to go to work early since I got this job,I hope I won't be fired today I thought fearfully hurrying in through the back door
"Hey! Young lady"I heard the voice I dreaded most at the moment, s**t! I cursed under my breath as I took to my heels running to the counter,"you're really doomed today" Maria mouthed.
"Ms Em I'm really sorry,I swear it won't happen again" I apologized giving her my best puppy eyes. Luckily Ms Em is a kind woman,she sometimes act like our mother which is the best part of our work,we get to eat free lunch and some extra stipend if the day was great." You wouldn't be the death of me Ali,this is your final chance to change,if this happens again I'm really going to fire you" she went on and on scolding me. Pheew!,guess I've escaped today I thought proudly as I resumed my work, it's sure going to be a long day I thought sadly.
"Litz.. litz!" I heard Maria's voice bringing me back to reality,"hey babe! What's up?"I asked trying my best to sound cheerful. Truthfully I have a lot on my plate,my rent had expired months ago and I'm yet to pay up,my landlord isn't taking it easy with me as he had threatened to send me packing should I dare to return without my rent at the end of the day, "Liittzzzz.." came her voice again making me blink back the tears that threatened to fall off my eyes.
"Is it your rent again?" Maria asked, "yh sure,you know Mr Wells isn't gonna let me stay any longer,I mean why would he? I've clearly overstayed my welcome" I replied forcing a smile,"you know you don't have to fake it Litz, you can stay at my place, I've got your back"she said making this warmth to spread through my chest,"what would I do without you best" I replied opening my arms for a hug.
"Enough with the chit chat girls, you don't wanna get fired,do you?" Came Ms Em's voice ,"no ma'am " we chorused as we exchanged our familiar 'like seriously 'glances.
I guess I'm the luckiest person on earth to have a friend like Maria, without much thought I knew I was packing out today,Mr Wells,the pot bellied landlord is a really merciless man,I would have probably been kicked out since had it not been for the intervention of the other yard members, I'm really hopeless right. The day went by so slowly I nearly thought it wouldn't end, okay maybe I'm exaggerating truth is I dread going back to be kicked out,fine Maria has opted to help me but I wouldn't want to be such a bother I thought sadly. Looking at the old cracked watch on my wrist I knew it was time to get off work,I quickly assisted in packing up.
"C'mon, it's time to go get your stuffs" came Maria's excited voice as she ran down the street,"are you sure this is a good idea? hey! hey! wait up" I screamed trying to meet up with her pace,I forgot to mention she was the best athlete while in senior highschool while I was second to her,I could still remember when we first met when I won the scholarship offered by the missionaries of St Paul while at the orphanage to go to senior high,our first ever competition got us fighting as I had mistakenly crossed paths with her making her fall,it wasn't an easy one but we somehow got through it only to end up as best of friends,I wouldn't trade her for anything whatsoever I thought smiling happily as I trodded after her,the silly girl wouldn't wait for me.
"Hey Litz, will you be okayy...Maria trailed off immediately we got to my yard, apparently,my little belongings were all scattered on the floor with the door to my little room well locked,"yeah...yeah... sure", I stuttered as I tried to hold back the tears that threatened to fall off my eyes. I bent to pack up my stuffs and leave when I noticed the only portrait I had of my family smashed on the floor.
With a sudden rush of anger, I rushed towards Mr Wells who stood by the side of the yard smiling victoriously, "hey!!!" I screamed at the top of my voice as I landed a punch on his old ugly face, luckily I had learnt how to fight just to protect myself from the thugs living around,on several cases I had been followed by some guys with malicious intent, nothing good could possibly come out of the slums I mean, however I was determined to make a difference,"couldn't you have waited for me to come pack up my stuffs" I fired angrily at him when he finally regained his composure,"aishh!you little pauper" he cursed angrily as he made to retaliate when the neighbors held him back,"you wouldn't dare lay a finger on me,Mr.. unless you want to join your ancestors in their sick graves" I said as I grabbed his hair making to pull it off,"stop that Alitzel"came Maria's apprehensive voice,"do you want to get us into some sort of trouble when you've got a lot on your plate?",at that point,I bent weakly to the ground as I squatted in tears.
Does my life have to get this messy? I thought as I cried,if there was anything I hated,it was definitely trampling on the weak. Assisted by my friend,I packed up my stuffs as we headed to her place,a little cozy apartment she stays alone. Maria has her parents who support her from time to time so it's not really difficult with her,"hey there, welcome to my humble abode" she said excitedly as she opened the door letting us in, immediately I stepped in I exhaled deeply,"I'm so grateful for having a friend like you Maria, you know I got really scared of where I'd go after being kicked out, and sorry about the way I acted earlier, you know seeing my family portrait in that state,it made lots of emotions to rush through me, I'm..."I made to go on when she cut me off,"heyyyy, c'mon Litz,what are friends for" she said while giving me a peaceful smile,she really has a way of making things right for me,"ohh come here "she said as she extended her hands to give me a hug.
"I guess that's what I needed all along.."I said as we laughed happily,"c'mon,go freshen up while I make dinner", she said as she pushed my into the bathroom. At that point I knew I had lots of battles to fight,I needed to figure out which turn my life would take.
