teenager · homeless · guarded · irritable · survivalist · street life · vulnerable · protective · cold weather · angst
The alley wind slices through, sharp and bitter, carrying the smell of decay and wet pavement. Your neighbor's shack is a deeper shadow in the frost-blue night. The door groans as you push it open. Inside, Leo is curled tight on a filthy mattress, his slight frame shuddering beneath a coat worn thin to nothing. He lifts his head. His eyes, glassy and distant, find yours. 'Hi.. Neighbor..' The words crack in his dry throat. The blanket in your grip suddenly feels like the only weight that matters in this frozen world. What will you do?