“No. Get out of here right now before you dirty something.” The bell, ringing to announce his arrival, had just finished when Kael got stopped by a middle-aged woman. The pain of instant rejection was nothing new, and he could only try to talk to the woman calmly. “Ok. Ok. I'm not touching anything. Ma'am, I am just looking for a place to work. I assure you that” - “Who would want to buy our clothes while a dirty, ragged beggar was working as a clerk. Who knows if their purses will still be there when they are changing. Out. Now!” She interrupted him before he could even finish talking.

The slightly shrill voice of the store manager rang in Kael's ears as he tried to plead his case once again. “But Ma’am, please, I can work in the back, right? And when I get my first paycheck, I will be able to afford'' - “No! Who do you take me for? You are all nice and polite now, but who knows if you arrive here drugged up the next time. No. Out now, before I call the police.”

Suppressing a sigh, Kael had no choice but to leave if he did not want to risk getting into more trouble. Turning around, he walked out of the store. The chime rang again, making him feel as if it were the world, laughing at him for trying to change. Looking back at the store, he noticed a few patrons staring at him, whispering and pointing.

Back on the street, still busy in the early evening, he let the dying sun warm his cold heart. He had stopped counting weeks ago, but he was pretty sure the count for instant rejections had to be over 20 by now. While it was certainly not the first store, not even the first of the day, that had thrown him out trying to find work, it still hurt. Slowly walking down the sidewalk while enduring all kinds of looks, Kael decided he had had enough humiliation for one day.

At least the boutique Zoph, the fourth and last store he had visited today, did not employ dedicated security personnel. Being literally thrown out of a store was still one of his least favorite things to experience, period. Wandering past the busy shops he would not be welcome inside, he was at a loss. Was there really no way for him to change his life?

He could understand the owners being reluctant to hire one so young and homeless. Still... Was it so difficult to give him a try? Shouldn't someone have the foresight and or heart to give him a chance? Hell, they could work him to the bone for almost no pay, and he would thank them for it. But the last few weeks showed him different. The only answer he had gotten was no in one form or the other.

Every other day he worked up the courage to visit stores, trying hard to find work of any kind. The first few times he had been rejected, anger, hatred, and pain had wrecked him for the rest of the day. Whatever pride or self-respect he had left after years on the street had been crushed thoroughly. Now, there was only resignation and indifference left. In the end, there was nothing he could do but try again and again until something changed. Today was a bust, but who knew what tomorrow would bring. Trying his hardest to cheer himself up, he began his long walk home.

He had gotten used to walking with time and even started to enjoy it. Not that he had much choice in the matter anyway. Public transport was too expensive for him, and riding a bike had been impossible with his lame leg and limited budget. Thus, he tried to make the best out of a bad situation. Every day he took different ways home, allowing him to see more of the city he had been living in since his birth.

Today was no different. Kael had been coming to this neighborhood for a while now and was excited to explore some side streets. It was one of the more upscale parts of the city, and those always promised unusual things to see. He usually avoided these areas for his job hunting since the chances of getting thrown out or even arrested, for no reason but having the audacity to enter a store, were higher. But he was still exhausted from the last few days, and it was relatively close to home, so he had opted to give it a try anyway.

Soon Kael left the heavily populated shopping streets and dove into the smaller, calmer areas. Away from the busy roads, Kael felt like he had entered a different world. Single-family houses dominated the neighborhood, and parked cars lined the road, giving it a peaceful ambiance. Pretty front gardens with vines climbing dutch clinker and flowers, neatly arranged in fenced-off plots, guarded by garden gnomes, promised a happy life.

The dreamy paradise of happy families and good food slowed Kael's feet. Chaining him like the tentacles of the Kraken, his memories, dreams, and wishes held him in place. Absorbed in visions of past events, he fell deeper and deeper into the dark recesses of his mind. Suddenly a car horn shattered the illusion, bringing him back to the here and now. He felt tears streaming down his face, and only one thought was left in his addled mind. Flee!

Kael ran as fast and far as he could. Moving his body distracted him from the memories, bringing relief. The pain of excessive movement grounded him, cementing his being in the here and now. With a few streets cleared, he calmed down enough to stop crying and slow down. Minutes later, he resumed his exploratory walk, still shaken but able to function.

Leaving the picturesque neighborhood, he chanced upon a nice, big park. Grass and trees growing on wavy hills, only interrupted by a few cobbled paths, were visible from where he stood outside the gate. A lazily flowing brook and an imaginative playground for children completed the image of peaceful perfection.

Inside, he saw families with smiles on their faces playing around. Couples sitting under trees or on the grass basking in the golden evening sun. Teens in school uniforms were playing football on a wide, plain flight of grass, discarded clothing substituting goalposts.

The view evoked the same peace and happiness that the streets he had just left had. In better control now, Kael managed to suppress the memories that were bubbling up again. With tears threatening to ruin the moment, he needed to do something. He entered the park, hoping that walking would distract him enough. It worked... kind of. The memories were still there, influencing his thoughts, but they did not overwhelm him as they had before.

Would they be living in an area like this by now? His mother had said they were on the lookout for a house to buy back then. He would be bringing Lucy to the park after school to play, and once it became dark, their mother would come and call them back for dinner. Then they would spend the evening together, eating good food, playing some board games, or maybe watching TV together. He would have friends over and maybe, just maybe, find a girlfriend. Sneaking away together late at night, hiding from their parents to fool around.

Fantasies of a better life. A future that would never come to pass. Experiences he would never make. His parents were missing, presumed dead. His sister was living with foster parents, not even remembering his existence.

Depression being a regular occurrence these days, Kael knew how to deal with it. Seeking shelter from his mind, Kael walked into the small forest right next to the park entrance. Exercise worked wonders at emptying his mind, and half an hour later, he was so exhausted from running and jumping through the forest that only the thought of rest remained.

Finding an old and big tree to seek shelter under, he sat down and closed his eyes. That was how he sat there, below an ancient tree, nature healing his frayed nerves and exhausted body, at least up until he heard a snarling, ugly voice call out to him, interrupting his rest.