My life makes me want to run away. I’ve got no place to go. Nofamily, no house, no anything. All wiped out by a fire in 2001. I did not get anymoneypaid out by the insurance company because they said the fire was an “ act of God” caused by a lightning strike, which my insurance did not cover. Since then, I’ve been walking this park, alone and joked about by everyone who walks past me. Now I guess you’re wondering, why don’t I get a job? Why does everyone jokeabout me? Why do I not ask my family for help?
Well, I have been applying for jobs, it’s just that no-one accepts me. I studied hard at school and I got decent grades, but no jobs are available to me. The answer to the second question is something that I just have to live with. During the fire, My face was horribly burned. This, added to the fact that I am short and have a hunchback, make people fear me and run away or just shout abuse at me. Finally, the answer to the third question is that I simply do not have any. My parents died when I was two years old. I have no aunties, no uncles, nobody.
There is one person in my life though. If there is anyone who could be “ that special someone”, it’s her. She’s beautiful. Despite never talking to her, our eyes have met many times and it’slove at first sight. I just wish I could gather up the courage to finally talk to her. It has been a while since I’ve approached a woman without being slapped or ran away from. In fact, it has been a while since I have approached anyone. Any social interaction with the world feels awkward and scary because it has been so long.
The only interaction I have with the outside world is through the local children who torment me each day. Each day, I sit on this bench starving. The only meals I eat are leftovers I manage to find in the bin. It is a miracle how I survive. How I have not died from dehydration, starvation or hypothermia is a miracle. I have not had a shower in months. I just wish someone would take me home. Look – there’s the woman! The woman which takes my breath away every time I see her. Maybe she could be the one to take me off the streets.
Only if I could gather up the courage to approach her my life would not be as much of a mess and I could get my life moving in the right direction. OK, I’m going to do it this time. I’m going to talk to her! As I get off the bench, I spot the local children! Quick, hide! Those pesky local children are coming. Look at them, with their hoods up; with their phones playing out their angrymusic; with their hands in the shape of a gun. They make my life hell – even though I don’t provoke them.
I can’t run very fast due to my disability (which is my hunchback) so when the children chase me I can not getaway. They circle me and torment me. One day, they pushed me over. It hurt and many people saw this, but no-one came to help me. I was shocked that no-one asked me if I was OK, this is one of the reasons I give up on the world. People are selfish and do not care about anyone else. Eventually, the children grew tiresome of mocking me and left – either that or they left because it was getting dark. So, here I am once again.
Another lonely night, propped up against a tree, with no-one to hold. No family to wish goodnight. Oh, what I would give to feel loved again. Each day is a recurring nightmare, except I can’t wake up. I’m going to make a promise to myself now, and it is that tomorrow I’m going to try to turn my life around. I’m going to apply for a job and I’m going to ask the girl of mydreamsto dinner. Oh, how wonderful life could become with those two simple things. “ You! ”, the park keeper says, as he pokes me with his pointed stick used for picking up leaves, “ Time to move along. ”.
So my day begins, and I’m feeling slightly optimistic for once – knowing that today I will be once again attempting to sort out my life. You may be thinking, “ Why do you think this attempt will be any different to your others? ”, well I’m not too sure myself. All I know is that today I’m going to come across as a confident individual. I think this is what I have been lacking, but it is hard for me to be confident when I have the likes of those pesky children always tormenting me, insulting me and abusing me. Anyway, the first step in getting back on my feet is to get a job.