It was a cold and rainy night in the beginning of November. It was the kind of night where families would sit in front of the fire. Children would be jumping at there families when they returned home and the nanny would leave. Hugs kisses and laughter would be exchanged and they would sit down to a peaceful evening.
The evening was anything but peaceful for the man who walked the streets of London. He had no family anymore. No home. No life He had no umbrella and he pulled the back of his brown coat up to avoid the rain. Not that he cared really. Who would care if he caught his death of cold? He was nobody.
No. You are somebody said a tiny voice in the back of his head.
"Not anymore!" he said aloud to the darkness. Then more quietly. "No one cares"
Yes once he had been somebody. Once he had had friends. But that was a distant memory. He walked with a limp the man did. If you looked close you saw the look of pain every time he stepped. No one ever looked close anymore. Someone once had. Someone special. Someone who didn't know him now.
"Look Mummy!" a little boy cried from a covered bus stop. "It's a dirty old hobo. Look at his dirty clothes and messy hair."
"Hush Johnny!" She scolded the boy. The look she gave the man though could have frozen the sun. As if it is my fault your child is rude.
Truth be told he wasn't old he was quite young. Just over twenty-five he looked about forty. He wandered awhile up one street down the other looking for a small shelter.
He finally found a covered awning under which to sleep. He curled up underneath his torn ratty meager coat. He tossed a bit as if having an internal debate. And indeed he was.
Not tonight. Yes, tonight. No, I don't want to put myself through that again. Yes, I need it in the end he gave into temptation. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a weathered photograph. A young girl was holding a baby by a lake. Her eyes sparkled merrily but there was a hint of sadness. She didn't know why he was leaving.
He could still remember their last argument.
"Why are you deserting me bastard?" She had screamed.
"Aw shit I am not deserting you!" calm, cool.
"Then what do you call it? Enlighten me.' He sighed exasperated.
"Okay I'll enlighten you. I'm saving your skin. It's me he wants. He proved that ages ago! If he can't find me he can be weakened!"
"I don't care about that! I care about you! I care about our child!"
"Well, then, if you care about him let me go. I don't want him growing up with all this. Or worse without parents."
"Will you be back?" she whispered. He looked away.
"If I can."
"Promise me!"
"I don't think I could do that."
But then of course he had had every intention of coming back. This was before. Before he realized what he was.
Back in the now the man curled his long skinny fingers around the photo like a small child with a favorite cuddly teddy bear. The rain leaked through the awning on to his face melting with tears and intertwining until you couldn't tell which was which.
She was doing fine so he last heard. Someone had found him and written him he didn't know whom. The letter had been addressed to him the address was
Bus Stop of the day. The letter had simply said that she was doing fine and not to worry but it had urged him to come back. He had cursed and thrown it into the trash. And turned as if to leave. However then he dug it out again and secured it in his pocket.
A few months after that he had written her a short note on the back of a Crunchy bar smiling at how he loved them when he was young.
Darling
I am ok don't worry. I can't come back. You wouldn't want who I have become you and our son don't need me. You are better off. Please forget about me though I will never forget you.
Love Forever
He had not signed this note. He knew she'd know whom it was from.
He awoke the next morning and the sun was shining. This never seemed to matter to the man. The sun never shown on him. Not even in the middle of summer. He survived on the mere earnings of a chimney sweep. A job that it didn't matter if he was filthy. He ate small meals. If any.
He didn't deserve more. He didn't know why he kept on living but he didn't have the guts to kill himself. He didn't deserve death either. By now you are probably wondering what he did. It was more like what he didn't do.
He had realized it after he left. Sure had had thought it was best to leave but he knew then that he had deserted them. He was a coward. A runner. He should have faced up to his fears. Should have stayed and protected his family. That's what his friends did. They weren't cowards. He had always been a coward; he always roped his friend into helping him. It was a wonder that they had stayed with him,
But they did. Along time ago.
Sure now his fears had been concurred but then they hadn't. No use dwelling on it now. He mused. That life was over.
Or was it?
He didn't know all he knew was that he was alone. All he knew was he missed her and had missed her and had for the past five years.
Imagine that Harry Potter alone.

The young lady trudged down the street heading once again for the unemployment office. She had left her child in the flat. It scared her to do that but if she hadn't they might not have a flat. She had 60 to her name and the rent was 170 and they had to eat. Ha! If you could call canned food and water eating.
"May I heeelllppp yoou?" asked the snotty lady at the desk and she had to fight the urge to slap her.
"Yes," false smile "I was wondering if you have any new jobs?"
"Hmm… let me see." As if she didn't do this every hour of the day.
"Yes, we have an opening for a janitor."
Yeah-right lady I'm not that poor. "Is that all?"
"Fraid so dearie." She had turned and felt a wave of depression over coming her. Then outside the door a lady stopped her.…
"Hello. I was about to place an offer for a teacher in the three-year-old room of the Daycare I work for. Would you be interested?"
"Where do I sign?" Luck was on her side for the first time in years. She returned home that night exhausted. The director of the Sunny Days Day-care had drilled her on her experience endlessly. No, it didn't matter she had an almost six year old. Had she ever worked in any other daycare? NO okay No so what?
Finally reluctantly the director had hired her. She had asked very quietly that if it were possible she would need to get a small check within two weeks. Only a small one taken out of her paycheck only to pay her rent. Reluctant again she had agreed.
"Only if you agree to stay six months at least!" like I am going to willingly leave a job!
When she got home her son jumped at her.
"Mummy! Mummy Uncle is here!" NOOOO! What the hell was he doing here???
She inhaled and walked inside.
"Nice place." He commented.
"No, it isn't. You're an awful liar."
"Granted." He grinned.
"How did you find me?" She was overwhelmingly curious. She had hidden her tracks well she thought.
"I looked hard." She sighed. He would.
"I left for a reason."
"A dumbarse reason." C.J. gazed at him.
"You said the A word!"
"Sorry."
"Ceej why don't you go play?"
"Okay mummy," he went to the bedroom in the three-room flat.
"So anyway dumba- er stupid reasons."
"I couldn't live there anymore! What's stupid about that?"
"Everything! I mean you had a mansion and now look where you are living!"
"We're happy here." She said this quietly and he knew she didn't mean it.
"Like hell! You took C.J. away from his family."
"I'm his family."
"Right. Where does he go to school?" she muttered something. "Sorry didn't catch that."
"A convent school!"
"We have the finest schools!"
"And the memories!"
"You could move!"
"That's what I did!"
"I mean somewhere else among us."
"The community is to small."
"You could have at least written!"
"And have Mum here? Nuho thanks."
"Mum's in a right state!"
"She'll get over it."
"After another three years am I right?"
"Maybe."
"Don't you care?"
"Yeah. I care. I care too much. Too much about him!"
"I thought we were over this."
"He wrote me!"
"Really?" she nodded and pulled out the letter. He frowned.
"That's his writing for sure. Could you trace it?"
"No."
"Damn." There was silence. "Please?"
"No,"
"C'mon!"
"No dammit no! In fact get out!"
"Pardon?"
"Out. Of. My. House er Flat."
"Okay. Okay. But think about it okay?"
"Yeah." I'll think about it. One day. But not now.
"I'll miss you. Love you Loud Mouth."
"You too Ickle Boy." They smiled at each other and he left. She leaned against the door and let the tears flow down her cheeks.
"Mummy?"
"Yes?"
"Why isn't Uncle staying?" Oh boy.
"Umm because he had to go back home."
"Why can't we go back?"
"C.J. I told you we can't go back. Not ever. Because… Because … because they don't want us."
"Uncle wants us! I wanna go back!"
"CJ stop that whining!"
"Sorry Mummy."
"Its okay sweetie." He couldn't know. Not yet.