1 Kicked to the Curb

Ji-Hyun Parker ran across town in a haze. Her bare feet slapped against the wet pavement. She carried only a ripped bag and the clothes on her back. Ji-hyun struggle to see as she blinked past the tears. What had she done for things to end up this way? Was it simply the last straw?

She found an alley and huddled into a corner near trash bins. Taking newspapers from the bins, she stuffed the empty areas of her shirt and pants to try and keep warm. Ji-Hyun wrapped her thin sweater around her shoulders before trying to sleep. Her vision was spinning and her head was hot with fever. Her body didn't usually collapse under stress however tonight was different.

She startled when a can bounced across the pavement a man in a military police uniform came into her view. He had not seen her as he lit a cigarette and stared into the night sky. Ji-Hyun tried to shrink into the corner but, knocked off the top of the garbage cans. He turned to her direction and poised his body for an attack.

"Who's there?" his deep voice resonated through the alley.

She shrank back, shuddering before losing consciousness.

"Ji-Hyun?"