It was a hard time in London. Many people were poor and had to scrounge around for money or food. Some people had a business so they had money coming in. Other people who had a business weren't doing so well.

Hope was working as a baker; she was good at cooking. She knew she was lucky to have the job since the owner of the shop didn't like her much. The only reason she got the job was because her friend Michael worked at the shop and begged his boss to hire her.

Hope was forever grateful to Michael because if he hadn't helped her get that job she would have been living on the streets.

The day started out like any other day. Hope had a hard time getting up in the morning and most of the time Michael had to come and force her out of bed. Even though Hope was twenty-six she still acted like a child some times.

"Why is it so hard for you to get up in the mornings?" Michael asked.

"Because I'm a night person not a morning person."

"That's not an excuse."

"Yes it is."

Michael just rolled his eyes and then left to get ready for the day; Hope did the same. Once they were ready they left to the bakery.

Once they got to the bakery they started their work. Michael went to the back of the shop and started baking the bread. Hope was stuck at the counter, taking people's orders. She loved baking, but the owner of the store, Cody, never gave her the chance to bake. Hope figured it was because he still had a grudge against her mother and was taking it out on her.

Every day Cody took an hour break so during that time Michael managed the counter while Hope got to bake. Her specialty was baking cakes and she was very talented when it came to decorating them. Her latest master piece was a chocolate cake with frosting. It was square and she used green frosting to make three leaves in each corner. Then she took blue frosting and made a rose in the center of the cake. Lastly she used different color frosting to make a bird near the rose.

Hope and Michael would quickly change places just before Cody got back. When he asks who made the cakes Michael says he did because if he knew Hope made them Cody would be angry with her.

"I don't understand why he doesn't like you so." Michael said when he and Hope were on their break.

"We've been through this." Hope replied.

"I know, but I still do not understand. It wasn't your fault after all."

Hope sighed. "I suppose it's not."

"But you still think it is?"

Hope was silent for a moment. Then she said, "I know it is."

Hope stood up to go back to the shop. "Hope, when will you stop blaming yourself?"

"Never."

The rest of the day went on like usually. Customers came in and out to browse or buy. Michael was back baking and Hope was helping customers and cleaning the shop. Cody was going back and forth between the baking and helping customers.

That night when Hope and Michael got back home they went on the roof and looked up at the stars like they do every night.

"That one looks like a cupcake." Michael said, pointing to a group of stars.

"The one next to it looks like a dog."

"There's one that looks like a two layer cake."

"I see a ship."

"Oh hey, that one looks like a pie. Maybe pumpkin pie. Or apple. Probably cherry."

Hope laughed. "Seems like you have food on your mind."

"Well, I did just get done working at the bakery. That group looks like a flag. There, that wasn't a food."

"I'm sure you just said that even if it did look like some sort of food."

"What else do you see?"

"I see…" Hope was silent for a minute. Then she sat up and sighed. "A broken heart.

Michael sat up and looked at Hope. "Come on, Hope, don't be sad. You know I hate to see you depressed. It's been three years. I know that that's not a long time, but you need to move on. Look ahead in your life to the good."

"And what good is in my life?"

"You have me."

Hope stared at Michael. She knew she had him and could count on him. He was a very goo friend, but that wasn't enough. He was Hope's only friend and what would become of her if anything happened to him? What good would be in her life then?

Hope said nothing to Michael and just walked back in the house. Michael sat on the roof for awhile.

The next day Hope was still a little depressed. Michael tried talking to her, but she kept saying she was fine and didn't want to talk at the moment. Michael had been Hope's friend since they were kids and he had always been there for her and helped her out when she was in trouble. Now he felt like he was letting her down and he didn't know what to do.

Hope was putting some freshly baked bread on a shelf. She was trying to keep herself busy so she didn't think about last night. She knew that she hurt Michael when she asked what good she had in her life. She didn't mean that Michael didn't mean anything to her.

"Hope, I know you don't want to talk, but there is something I need to say." Michael said as he came up to her.

"Michael, I'm sorry about last night." Hope said before Michael had a chance to speak. "I didn't mean what I said."

"I know you didn't. You're just depressed and thinking about…about the past."

"Do you forgive me?"

"I forgave you long ago."

Hope smiled at Michael.

After the bakery closed Hope and Michael walked home.

I'm going to go to the market tomorrow. Do you want to come?" Michael asked.

"Are you going to go see that Pirelli fellow?"

"I just like to go and laugh at his outfit. You have to admit he wears some weird clothes."

"Too bright for my liking."

"So, do you want to join me?"

"I think I'll pass. I need to get some things done tomorrow?"

The next day came and Hope was feeling better. Michael was still trying to get her to go to the market, but she kept refusing. Finally Michael gave up and just went to the market by himself.

Hope had seen Pirelli before and she thought he was a joke. He had an Italian accent and wore the brightest and ridiculous clothes she had ever seen. He was supposedly a good barber but Hope wasn't too sure about that.

Hope didn't do much throughout the day. She cleaned a little around the house, but other then that she read her book. Hope loved to read. She could always be found with her head in a book if she wasn't busy doing something else.

Later Michael came back from the market.

"Did you have a good time?" Hope asked.

"You should have come. It was an interesting day. Pirelli was selling this Miracle Elixir that is supposed to grow hair. This guy, his name is Sweeney Todd, said that the elixir was only piss and ink."

"Isn't that lovely?" Hope said sarcastically.

"Anyway he is a barber and challenged Pirelli to a shaving contest. Sweeney won."

"So sorry I missed that."

"Well, I thought it was interesting. I might go get a shave from Sweeney Todd one of these days."

"That would be a good idea. You could use a good shave."

"Maybe you should come with me and have a bite of Mrs. Lovett's meat pies."

"No thank you. I tried those one time and I was sick for a week. Makes me not want to eat pies any more."

A few days had passed and Michael decided it was finally time for him to get a shave. He tried to get Hope to come with him, but she kept refusing.

"I don't want to just sit around while you get a shave."

"Maybe you can give Mrs. Lovett some baking tips for her pies."

"She's going to need more help then I can give her."

"It will get you out of the house."

"I have things I need to get done."

Michael sighed in defeat. "All right, you don't have to come. I'll be back in a while." Then Michael left.

Hope decided to pass her time by going to the market. She didn't really have anything to do at home.

She browsed the many shops, but didn't see anything that got her interest. It's not like she needed to buy anything, but it was nice to see what the shops had and if she found anything she liked then that was fine with her.

Hope decided to go in one last shop before she went home. It was a new shop that had things like seashells, rocks and ships. Michael loved ships and Hope knew he would love this part of the shop.

There were different sized ships, helms, anchors and there was a board that had all the different kinds of knots sailors use. Hope thought this would be a good idea for a gift for Michael to make up for her not going with him.

She browsed the shelves and looked for the perfect gift. Finally she found one he would like. It was a ship in a bottle. She looked at it and wondered how they got the ship in there. She must have looked at it for almost ten minutes wondering. Finally she went to pay for it.

On the way home Hope was stopped by Sara. She used to be a friend of her mother's, but when she married a man with wealth she forgot all about Hope and her mother.

"Hope, it has been too long." Sara said.

"I'm surprised you remember me." Hope tried hard to hide her anger.

"Why wouldn't I? Your mother and I were such good friends."

"Until you married a rich man and forgot all about us."

"How is your dear mother?" Sara said as if she hadn't heard Hope.

"She died a while back."

"Poor thing. How are you holding up?"

"Well enough. Now I must be off."

Then Hope left before Sara could say anything else. She knew that Sara knew her mother died. She was at the funeral. Sara just liked making people feel bad. Since she married and became rich Sara acted like she was better then everyone. Hope disliked her and never wanted to see her again.

Hope thought that Michael would be home by the time she got there, but he wasn't. She thought that there were a few people there that wanted a shave as well. She put the ship on the dresser in his room.

Hope kept herself busy while she was waiting for Michael to return. She straightened up the house and washed what little dished were dirty. When she was done she looked outside and saw that it was dark. Michael left when it was still morning. Surely it doesn't take this long to get a shave.

Hope waited awhile longer in case he just got distracted by something on the way home. When it was nearly midnight she knew something wasn't right. It was too late and dark to look for Michael so Hope would start searching first thing in the morning.