I woke up to find myself lying on a worn brown couch. My head was throbbing, and a sharp pain shot through my foot. When my eyes adjusted, I took a look around. The horrible brown wallpaper was peeling off of the walls, and the once tan carpet was badly stained with what appeared to be years of spilled soft drinks. A musty smell soaked into my nostrils. My bag sat lying on the floor next to me. I grabbed at it and made a quick assessment. Everything seemed to be accounted for. I could leave this strange place!
After a very brief moment of relief, a wave of fear came crippling over me. I couldn't walk. I couldn't leave without help. I heard a crashing noise come from behind a closed door a few feet away. I wasn't alone. Panic kicked in. I made a grab for my bag, and swung my legs off the couch. I realized what a mistake that was when a lightning bolt of searing hot pain shot up my right leg. Then the door opened. I found myself staring at a short man with flaming red hair and crystal blue eyes. I remembered those eyes! They we're the last thing I saw before I passed out! He kept his gaze on the floor. He cleared his throat, and began to speak.
"Tried to take you to the hospital. Couldn't find any I.D. so they wouldn't admit you. Said your ankle appeared to be broken. Wrapped it up and said to keep it elevated."
I seemed to have lost my voice for a moment. I didn't know how to respond. I never owned any form of identification, so of course they wouldn't find any. I knew this man had seen the large amount of money I was carrying when searching for identification. Why didn't he just offer the hospital cash for me?
"Did you steal it?" He looked at me seriously.
"Steal what?" I didn't understand what he was asking me.
"The money."
"Oh! No of course not. My parents left it for me." That made sense. If he thought there was a possibility I stole the money he didn't want to offer it out.
"Shouldn't carry so much around. Not safe." His eyes were studying me now. I felt a little uncomfortable. I wasn't sure if he believed me, and judging by the look on his face neither was he. There was an awkward silence, the kind that seems to go on for a lifetime, and I needed to break it somehow.
"I'm Alexandria." My words came out in a hurry.
"Walter."
"Well thank you, Walter. I certainly owe you that much." I offered him a smile.
"Welcome." He kept a straight face.
"I guess I'll be going. Don't want to impose on you anymore than I already have."
"You can't walk, and were on the 5th floor." He said matter of flatly.
"How did I even get up here?"
"Carried you."
Oh. I felt puzzled. Was I supposed to ask him to carry me back down?
"If you could um.. help me back down the stairs I'll be out of your way." I felt a twinge of embarrassment.
"Where do you live? Can take you home."
The weight of his words hit me like a ton of bricks. The realization of it all washed over me, I have no home. I have nowhere to go. I was in such a rush to get out of here, not even thinking about the fact.
"I don't really live around here." It was the best answer I could come up with.
"Didn't ask you if you lived around here. I asked you where you did live." His tone was sharp. He was obviously growing mildly annoyed with me. So I went for the truth. I really didn't have anything to lose.
"My parents abandoned me."
He said nothing, just continued to study me.
"I'll be okay though. They left me plenty of money. I'm 16 anyway. I can take care of myself."
"Is that why you walk down dark alleys with a book bag full of cash by yourself in the middle of the night?"
He was scolding me. I felt like an idiot.
"I didn't exactly do it on purpose…" He answered me with a sigh. I really felt like an idiot after that explanation.
"I'm really sorry for all the trouble I caused you. I'm sure there's a hotel around here or something I can go to."
"Bad neighborhood. Hotels around here aren't used for sleeping." Now I was getting annoyed.
"Listen Walter, I'm very grateful for all the help you've given me. But it's obvious I can't stay here, and I'm just trying to figure out my options."
"Live alone." His eyes met mine.
"Have a spare bedroom. Could split rent until you find another place."
My mind went into over load. I didn't know this man. On the plus side he did however save my life.. I looked around again. This place was a dump. Did I really want to do this to myself?
"Why do you care about helping me? We're strangers."
"Could use the help with rent this month." Walter's eyes dropped back down to the floor.
"How do I know your not some sort of crazy person who's going to murder me?" It was an honest question at least!
"Would I have really gone through the trouble of saving you, just to finish the job myself." He half smirked. I smiled back.
"I guess that's true." I let out a giant yawn.
"Should get some rest." He turned to walk back into his room.
"Thanks for everything, Walter."
He closed the door, and I drifted off to sleep.