All I've even known was to help eachother with all our deeds because our personal wealth is a shared wealth. I was sat for seven hours, with nothing but the sea of undiscovered land to fill my eyes. Once I stepped off the bus terminal all I saw were cold, gaunt faces that were consumed with pure self-interest. I'd asked fellow passengers that I shared my snacks with if they could help me find a place to spend the night. No response. Even the security guard told me if I didn't shove off they'd detain me. The only hope I saw were the conveniently advertised hostels around the area. I only had so much pocket change to spend and these rooms were priced sky high. Begrudgingly, I scrapped a town map laying on the asphalt and made my way since I was running out of daylight.

The stares were unbearable, or maybe it was my imagination. I felt like a spectacle, these people, these people I have never even meet before were categorizing me in their minds. "She's not one of us. Go back to where you belong. There's nothing for you here. The city is ours." They were looking straight through me! I ran as fast as I could, I couldn't take the judgement or this life.

I pushed my way through the crowds, at this point I couldn't keep the tears from streaming down my cheeks. I couldn't stop the blatant thoughts of anxiety or hopelessness. I wasn't use to this surrounding.

A sudden image of the great field and the fishing dock flashed behind my retinas. A stark comparison to endless gray buildings that enclosed my sense of free movement. I lost feeling in my arms and legs and fell knee first into the cobbled sidewalk. There I stayed as people walked around me and complained. Little did they know they were only an assembly line of faceless bodies following the other body in front of them, unknowing of their destination.

I don't know how long I kept this position, but I felt like eternity. Until a big, hairy knuckled man grabbed me by the shoulders and proceeded to lift me up. I don't look past his gold necklaced pendant, out of fear for what might be looking back at me. My body is frozen, as I anticipate achingly for his next move.

Out of my surprise he lays his fur lined, brown leather coat over my back and spoke softly. All I could hear at first was white noise, and the sound of passerbys jumbled and muffled.

He repeated himself and told me, "... focus on your feet. Feel the ground underneath them."

Skeptical, I envision the pavement and slowly I start to feel my body coming back from the air, and I am grounded. He asks, "How are you feeling? Are you lost? Are you hungry?"

I nod my head.

He then leads me through a pair of glass doors and I feel bright florescent lights stinging my eyeballs. My legs don't seem to be moving, but I end up sitting on a red, vinyl booth. The strange man hands me a menu, I still haven't looked at his face.

I muster up the courage after reading Lumber Jack Style Eggs and Stacks and start to inch my way forward. He is round faced with stubble growing around the neck. Greased back hair looking early forties, and a big, bulging belly. I am immediately intimidated. What have I gotten myself into? Should I bolt for the doors and not look back? Now I'm getting ahead of myself. Who am I to judge on appearances when he out of a sea of people was the only one to lend me a hand.

I smile slightly. "I'm feeling a lot better. Thank you. I'm sorry you had to see me so overwhelmed. I won't take up more of your time." I start to get up from the seat, but he insists that a little food will get my energy back up. A waitress came by and asked for our orders. I had soup and salad, he took a black coffee.

"You don't want to pass out again? Do you? You'll never know who you'll meet in a city like this, good thing you're with me. I'll protect you..."

Earlier I genuinely felt as if I was about to die from my panic attack, this resulted in my adrenaline spiking. I felt a pooling uneasiness at the pit of my stomach. I knew in the back of my mind I shouldn't accept anymore help from this man. But before I voiced my concern and my plans not involving him, he offered me something I couldn't refuse.