She wouldn't be more than 23 years old. Walking the streets, all bundled in layers of old tattered clothes, she asks for a bit of spare change from those passing by. Just a few cents would give her enough to purchase a cup of ocffee and warm her up. Looking up to these giants of the world she can't but feel frightened. Scowling faces look down on her, copping a plea that somehow they always managed to have only enough change to buy a 74cent coffee themselves. Despite, she offers tahnks to those that say sorry and tries to ignore those who continue to strut.
A lone stranger hears her calls for help. He pauses a moment, sticks his hand in his poekct and produces a loonie, a quarter, three dimes, five nickels, and couple of pennis. Without removing the dollar coin he extends his hand to hers and offers the change. He knows it isn't much, but to her its hope; to him it's nothing. He bids good day and continues along his way. she offered her tahnks and feels slightly content now, not for the money, but because for a moment someone took notice of her life. THe man never balked at her, never drumbled, he without question gave her enough money to buy a warm drink and tiny bit of food.
Spirits lifted, feeling quite good and brimming with hope she leaves her place by the warm vent and braves the frigid cold in search of a small store to buy some good. The palace looms before her; filled with rows of food and full pots of coffee the confectionary is intimidating and scary. She pulls herself forward and into the sotre. Immediatelly and sternly come fowl looks from the man behind the counter. She grabs a chocolate bar and his words sound clearly, "You better have money." Her pride falls away but her hand still grabs teh bar. She i able to make her way over to the coffes and pour a small cup. Apporaching the ocunter she is met with the cold look of an obsiously disgruntled manager. Production the money for the items restores a little of a shine to her eyes. He grabs the change and then yells at her for not having enough. He questions what he'll do with a chocolate bar touched by the scum of the earth. Every last shred of dignity falls from her, she is unsure what she will do. Harsh words from from a woman standing beside her, the woman yells at the man and offers to pay the idfference. The gril is borken though, she grabs the bar and the coffees and runs out the door sobbing.
She finds a warm corner by a vent. Crunched up, almost a ball, she maanges to eat the chocolate bar and drunk the coffee, all while crying and weeping to herself. A littel boy points at her and utters a questiont o his mother. They too are without shelter, and without food. The little boy is underdressed, and the mother is shivering. The mother pulls the boy away but not before the girl notices.
She stands up, sees their situation is worse than her own. She offers them the place by the vent, and a small blanket she had hidden inside her coat. The mother accepts and thanks her very much. Unsure of their situation the boy very happily mishes her a Merry Christmas. She can't help but to produce a smile. Her cuteness appears through the bitterness. Shining eyes gleam despite her tarnished face. A tear falls from her eye softly to the ground. She is unable to respond. Taking a few steps back she is still facing them, then she turns and walks away.
Not to be found until weeks later, she freezes to death on the winter solstice.