Certain memories are slipping away from me so quickly as I'm left wondering, 'Where are they?'
The night before, we started to tell each other stories, to ease our boredom and lighten our mood. One by one we shared our own personal stories, some true and a few obviously fictional. At last, it was Big Derek's turn. You could hear a pin drop as we all awaited with great anticipation for him to continue with the next chapter of his epic adventures. This ex-drug dealer's tale of how he got his facial scar was about to begin. We were gripped from start to finish, I was so absorbed by Big Derek's story that I felt I could have been there. For what felt like only a few minutes, he had totally unburdened me from my own demons for that half hour.
All nine of us were huddled tightly together in our sleeping bags to keep warm. The wind howled and whistled through our abandoned office block, which we called home, lifting and banging the boards which were supposedly nailed down over the broken windows. For a few months we were a dysfunctional but happy family that felt safe together. I didn't want this feeling to ever end. A peaceful night's sleep was beckoning as the evening drew to an end.
Thinking I was dreaming, the beeping and banging grew louder and louder. Panic set in when we realised that our makeshift family unit was about to be destroyed forever. Construction workers who had absolutely no idea we were inside continued advancing with a multitude of diggers and other construction machinery. We all frantically tried to gather up our belongings and make a swift run for it.
Unfortunately in that mad panic we all splintered off in various directions. Big Derek, young teenage runaway Christina and myself found ourselves catching our breath in the city's High Street. No one batted an eyelid at people like us. We were invisible to them.
The three of us pounded the streets for what seemed like hours, searching for other members of our 'family'. I felt so weak from all the walking, stress and constant hunger. In his kindness, Big Derek suggested that I rest awhile in a sheltered doorway, barely ever used, just off the main High Street, whilst he and young Christina continued the search for the others. They promised they'd come back for me before it became dark.
A fear began to set in, as the shops started to shut, the streets became empty and in that unnerving lull before the bars and restaurants opened for the evening, a few creepy, drunken men leered at me. This was definitely no place for a young woman, even if homeless, to be on her own. Where had Big Derek and Christina got to? Why hadn't they come back for me?
I curled up tight against the wall, my sleeping back wrapped securely around me. I tried to escape the streets by closing my eyes and reminiscing over last night's tales. They surely wouldn't be much longer.
I must have drifted to sleep but was suddenly awoken by sharp blows to my head, stomach and legs. I tried to open both my eyes but could only open one. My blurred vision allowed me to see a group of drunken lads, laughing and crowding in on me. All I remember is the deep depth of the tread on that dirty brown boot as it shot towards my face at a deathly speed. My last thought being, 'Where are they?'