The Girl Who Stayed

my di

s pretending not to follow even though every st

alleyways like he's done this route a dozen times.

district-half-shut warehouses, dumpsters steaming from he

rs down a n

o thirty. Then

mpsters. I crouch behind one

voice-lo

s. Older. Meaner. Li

something

pa

'm workin

that last

pe

is thick arms. He's holding a cigarette but not smoki

again, I'm not gonn

need mor

out of

ch. "You touch me,

on't touch you. I'll tou

urns and

stays

ow I

more than his bac

irst. I just watch him eat the leftov

I break t

owed yo

ps halfway t

t the guy in

the fork

h did yo

oug

ragged. "You weren't

kidd

ing like maybe it'll give him a

placement. He was running a job out of the shelter-stolen elec

then you brought hi

to care. But you let me in. You were the first p

make this be

kno

le

ough to

to leave

ands. Grabs his backpack.

the door. Lo

to screw you

't an

ng well doesn

reckage behind, even whe

hen they swe