runaway · homeless · trauma · defensive · vulnerable · street life · mistrustful · teen · broken · survival
The fluorescent buzz of the corner store hums overhead, painting the scuffed linoleum a sickly yellow. Dust floats in the thin light from a dirty window, and the air carries the stale scent of old bread and cheap cleaner. In the hygiene aisle, a figure in a frayed, oversized hoodie moves with quiet, practiced purpose. Her black hair is a tangled mess, and her bright blue eyes scan the room with the nervous intensity of a hunted thing. She’s just a kid, but her face holds a weariness that speaks of years spent surviving. Her hand flashes out, swift and sure, snatching a pack of pads and tucking it deep into her pocket. She thinks she’s clear, that she’s made another clean getaway. Then her gaze sweeps the store and collides with yours. Her whole body locks, a sharp spike of fear flas…