Mary Sullivan could not remember much of her early life, her mother and father had died when she was only two years old. she did have a brother, but she knew very little of him, his name was Francis and that he was two years older. They had been separated after their parents' death, for all she knew he was likely dead. Mary had been lucky enough to be be sent to an orphanage, her life there had been quite lonely though. The matron didn't like her very much and the other girls often tormented her and she grew quite friendless, but her life there seemed quite comfortable in comparison to how she lived now. She had turned fifteen three months ago and was too old to stay in the orphanage, while matron did not like Mary she was not a cruel woman and she secured her a position at a seamstress' as she had always been good with the needle and Mary worked there well but the owner took ill very suddenly and died. And so Mary was left on her own, the landlord threw her out of her apartment shortly after.
She had been homeless for a month now and had barely eaten in a week, and it showed. her dress which had once been brown was now a faded greyish colour and she had become so frail that it hung limply on her shoulders like a coat hanger, her stockings were in tatters and in dire need of being mended. her shoes were fine for August when she left the orphanage, but it was November now and she froze constantly as she had no shawl, she couldn't afford it.