Lucy sat in her room, dressed in another costume as tears coursed down her cheeks. She didn't want to go back out there ever again, having thrown up only moments ago. There came a small knock at the door before it slowly creaked open.
"Are you alright, Lucy?" An older woman with curly red hair piled neatly on her head asked as she made her way over to the sniffling girl.
"I hate 'im, Medda." She looked at her, her eyes filled with sadness. "I just want ta…ta…run away." She steamed. Medda sighed and sat down beside her, pulling her into a hug.
"It's alright. Sh, everything will be just fine. I'll tell Harry that you're sick." Lucy wiped her tears and looked into the blue eyes of the owner of the second story of the building.
"You would do dat fa me?" She asked, knowing how her uncle got when someone made an excuse.
"Sure I would, kid. Don't you worry about it." She smiled, "Now, get some rest." She added, standing and heading for the door.
"Medda?" She turned to face Lucy once more. "Thanks." Lucy forced a small smile. Medda returned it and nodded before leaving and clicking the door shut behind her.
Medda was like a mother to Lucy. They were very close and Medda always stood up for Lucy, even though Uncle Harry never paid heed when she told him to take the girl to her grandfather.
Lucy leaned on the window sill, on the third floor of the same building that served as living quarters. Looking out over the dimly lit street, she began to hum softly. Even down in the saloon, on stage, when she sang everything was fine again. She was free until the curtains closed and her Uncle's voice invaded her mind, trying to sell her to the highest bidder.
Her eye caught on a group of boys walking down the street, though they were too far away to make out. She sighed as she ran her fingers over the charm that hung around her bare neck and a tune rose from her chest, exiting her mouth smoothly as she began to sing. She was so engrossed in a melody about her father's return that she didn't even notice that the group of young men had stopped in their tracks.
Looking around, she could barely make out their confused expressions once her eyes found them. She continued singing, not thinking much of them until one looked up and saw her. In an instant, every eye was on her and she closed the curtains, her face flushed as she turned out the light. It wasn't long before she had fallen into a trance-like sleep.