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1.

"Come. In here. It would be warmer here."

The two huddled closer into their thin and worn-out jackets as they ran into the alleyway behind a restaurant, escaping the rain that caught them by surprise. They ducked into a large old cardboard box between two dumpsters. It smelled of old garbage but they were used to the smell.

"The shelter is two blocks away. We could have made it." The dark-haired girl said before erupting in a fit of coughs.

"I know this Rosa but you are not well. We need to stay dry. I can't afford to see you get worse than this," her friend said helping her to get warmer.

"Fine. Do we have any water left?" Rosa asked.

Eva looked into her backpack and fetched what her friend needed. "Here and take these. The doctor says you must take them at least twice a day since we can't afford the inhaler," she said handing her friend a bottle of water and two pills.

Rosa nodded her thanks and took the medication she needed to stay awake.

Eva and Rosaline have been friends since they were eighteen, Rosa found Eva beaten and weak in an alley about to be attacked by two guys who were utterly drunk. She didn't know where she found the strength to defend both of them but it was enough for the men to get bored with them and went on their way. Since that night, they looked out for each other as any sister would.

Eva held her friend closer as she began to shiver. "How is it that you're always so warm? No matter the weather" Rosaline asked.

Eva shrugged. "Don't know. Let's just focus on you" she said changing the subject.

Rosaline didn't need to know what she truly was, it would scare away her only friend - the only person she had in the world to call a family. They both have been homeless for five years, taking ends of jobs to make a few bucks just to survive.

Eva knew the reason why no one really wanted to hire her and with Rosa, they would hire her but her asthma was very bad. The jobs that she could attain required a lot of strenuous work in which she can't do.

Rosaline has been on her own since she was twelve, being moved from foster home to foster home that was her way of life until they kicked her out at eighteen. "No one wants a reject," Rosa told her when they were swapping life stories.

The banging of a door broke their silence causing them to shriek out loud.

"Who's out there?" a man shouted.

Rosa and Eva huddled closer together staying as quiet as possible. Most people didn't take it easy on the homeless in Seattle, they were like scum beneath their shoes.

"I said who's there?" the man shouted coming closer to where the girls hid.

Rosa's heart began to race faster. Her breathing became shallow. Eva pleaded with her eyes to stay quiet. Rosa tried harder to calm her breathing but none of her techniques was working.

The man slammed the dumpster shut after disposing of the garbage. Eva subtly sniffed the air as he was close by. Her eyes widen in fear after detecting the scent. She tried to stay calm.

The man made his way closer. A growl escaped his lips as he caught the scent of the two, "Hey. You're needed in the kitchen. We got VIPs in the dining area" another person shouted from the door.

"Next time. Pets" he hissed and stalked back into the kitchen area.

"We gotta leave now," Eva said impatiently getting her friend out. Rosa quickly complied and ran after her friend through the rain.

"Eva. Slow down. Please." She shouted over the rain that was coming down heavier. They were a street away from the shelter, so they decided to walk the rest of the way.

"Why were we running though? Did he just growl at us?" Rosa asked trying to catch her breath.

Eva stopped and looked at her friend. Shivering in the cold, her long black hair now wet and stringy. Her brown eyes showed how innocent she was to the world. How can she break it to this human that the world she lived in isn't what she thought it was.

"Someday you will see the bigger the picture. I don't think you are ready to know just yet." Eva said.

"Why not? " Rosa asked finally being able to regulate her breathing.

"Because I said so. Now come on," Eva said pulling her through the doors of St. Catherine's Shelter for women.

Now was definitely not the time to explain everything to her. The shelter has been their home for the past four years. The director in charge Sister Raphael kept two beds for them every night, having a soft spot for the two.

"Oh, girls. Look how soaked you two are. Rosa quickly, come let's get you dried off. Eva get her things, would you sweetie?" Sister Raphael said as they made their way inside.

The attendants each gave them a welcoming smile. The two have been like their own kids since they first came to the shelter. They pulled their own weight and helped wherever they can with the abused women and children. No one judged each other there and they all knew that they were safe.

The girls learned that a very affluent woman from out of state funds the shelter. Everything was in great shape, from the curtains by the windows to the spotless floors they walked on. Sister Raphael said the woman wishes to be anonymous only a mediator came by once a month to keep everything in order.

"Yes ma'am," Eva replied running to the cupboard they were given to store their personal belongings.

Rosa was led to one of the bathrooms that held a tub that was big enough to hold four persons, she was always amazed at the décor of all the bathrooms. It gave a homely feeling whenever she came in here.

The walls were beige, the lighting was soft, they installed a room heater to keep the room warm and toasty no matter the season. The cabinets were stocked with whatever feminine products a woman can want. The cupboards always had fresh fluffy towels and disposable bath slippers.

"Still captures your attention every time doesn't it," Sister Raphael asked smiling at the young lady that has captured her heart those four years ago.

"Yup. They really go all out for people they don't know." She said sitting in the now filled tub with warm water.

"A kind heart is hard to find but a kind heart with a clean mind is a rarity," sister said washing Rosaline's hair.

"Mmmmm..." she responded feeling relaxed.

Her day has been a bit difficult at the convenient store where she currently worked as a cashier. Her boss was a total pig, hitting on her whenever his wife wasn't looking. Their daughter who was the same age as her, refused to do any work so the cleaning up and restocking were left for her to do. Then there were the regular street kids who often come in and create a mess or shoplifts, calling the cops made no difference since they are always given a warning.

"Come now, sweet child. You are drifting off to sleep" sister said.

Rosaline was feeling the toll of her day on her shoulders and was very grateful for a warm bed to lay in if only she can have a permanent one.

"Have you two found an apartment yet?" Sister asked.

"If we want to end up dead in an alley after 2 days we sure would have taken the one across town," she said bitterly.

Sister Raphael chuckled at her tone. Rosaline was very strong and tough for her size, after her lonesome upbringing, her mindset has changed always being on guard, protecting her heart from any hurt.

"Maybe one day your prince charming would come and rescue you," Sister said jokingly.

The dark-haired girl scoffed, "As if. That's all a fairy tale sister, this is the real world. Stuff like that doesn't exist," she retorted making her way out.

Life has taught her that good thing doesn’t last and if it does happen for people like her, it comes with hard to reach ultimatums. Her bitterness towards fairy tales and wealthy people came from an experience she wishes she never had and forgets.

Taking a deep breath, she willed herself to calm and took comfort in knowing she had a warm bed to sleep in.

'A warm bed, thanks to a woman of wealth,' her conscience sneered.

A bit of remorse settled in her but she didn't dwell on it. Eva and herself will soon have a place to call their own.

Soon.

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