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The houses that were in this part of toere salow-style homes, but they weren’t homes at all They were four walls and a roof, privacy for people to inject and snort, rape, and murder

There were a few businesses within walking distance of me A deli that sold questionable meat and delivered an even worse atmosphere There was a laundro place on the other end of the street A pizza joint was close as well, and a shborhood was run-down and barely thriving, it gave h of the amenities I needed in order to survive

I let ht have once been a lush expanse of grass for children to play on but had long since died and was now nothingon to that last hope of staying alive

There was one tree, but it was even sadder than the decrepit neighborhood, with barely any leaves hanging onto the skeletal branches, its thirst evident in the gnarled trunk It was as dead as everything else in Desolation

The shadoere dark and thick at the back of the building, and the few streetlights that lined the road had long since given up And of course the city couldn’t care less about fixing them, so they continued to let the depression cave in around people

I felt this tingling on the back ofthat toldwatched I should’ve ive me a semblance of privacy I desperately wanted in life, but I foundfor as out there But there was nothing to see but the sadness, ugliness, and the forever darkness

One day I’d be able to feel safe One day I’d be able to make a home and be happy

But that day wasn’t today

6

Galina

I’d been at work for the last two hours, and there was an unusual rush this tiht that kept me busy, which I was thankful for It helped keep ht before and what had happened