The scorching sun burned my skin mercilessly as I picked up another bag of sand and hurled it over my back. I had a twelve hour shift today and my legs were already shaking from over use.

It didn't help that my breakfast had consisted of torn pieces of bread that hadn't gone bad which I had found in the bin outside the bakery.

I struggled to keep my legs from giving way underneath me. Sweat dripped down my forehead and ran down my back. It was only my second day of work but it felt like I had been here for weeks.

It definitely wasn't the ideal job but it was better than nothing. At least now I would be able to put some food on the table. I thought about the pay I would be getting by the end of the week and my mouth began to water.

I haven't tasted proper food in years. Images of the bread in the bakery flitted through my mind and I could almost smell the fresh dough being brought out of the oven.

I knew the smell too well. It was a daily routine for me to scavenge around for discarded or burnt bread the bakery threw out some times. Once I had come across two loaves of burnt bread. I had kept them like priceless pieces of treasure, savouring bits and pieces throughout the day and leaving the best parts for my mother.

A small smile fought its way across my tired face. Maybe this time it wouldn't be old or burnt bread on our table. Maybe I might even be able to buy some meat.

I licked my lips as I dragged my feet towards the mound of bags in the centre of the site. I couldn't remember the last time I'd had meat for a meal. The idea of it felt too good to be true.

After carrying a few more bags we were done for the day and I sat down for a while feeling slightly light headed. My lips were parched and my throat was too dry, it was painful to swallow.

I knew I had to head back soon. The nights were cold and the thin worn down clothes I wore weren't enough to protect me. I needed the fire at home. I wondered if my mother was home now and my heart sank knowing I would have to set the fire myself because she never got around to it.

Once I had enough energy I began my walk back to town. The sun had begun to set and the heat of the day was slowly being replaced by the chill of night.

I passed a well by a minister's house and suddenly my feet couldn't move anymore. I was thirsty, too thirsty to ignore the sight of it. I wondered if my mother had brought back some clean water after her shift last night and shook my head to rid myself from the fantasy.

She always claimed she had rich men fawning all over her and yet she always came back after work empty handed.

No, I knew the truth by now. If I didn't take care of myself, no one else would.

My feet were heavy as I cautiously walked over to the well. I looked down into the deep dark pit and the sound of water lapping down below felt like music to my ears.

Fatigue was quickly replaced with urgency and the need to survive till the next day.

I lowered the bucket by the side into the well and scooped up some water. I then pulled it up with whatever energy I had left and brought it over the ledge.

I looked around cautiously making sure no one was around before I dunked my head into the water and gulped down as much as I could. I nearly choked in the process but the water tasted divine on my dry tongue.

Once I'd had enough I cupped some of the water with my hands and washed my face a few times. It was amazing how refreshed I felt after only a few splashes.

The light above me suddenly switched on, illuminating my whole face and the bucket in my hands. Someone had seen me. I quickly dropped the bucket and ran down the street before anyone caught me.

I felt alive and much happier now. Once I got home I walked in to the cold, barren surroundings of our home. We lived in a small hut like place in one of the poorer parts of town in Seville. Almost everyone here were immigrants from even poorer countries, all trying to make a decent living.

The turnover here was high and more than often people were evicted. My mother worked in a brothel down town and a rich man had taken up with her and made her his mistress.

It was because of this that we were able to survive here for so long without money but food was sparse and he never bothered about our food and expenses. That was why I had looked for a work since I was fifteen and after a year I finally got one that paid a little.

I walked in and collapsed onto the rug on the floor. My body was aching and I was exhausted from all the hard labour. I closed my eyes and reminded myself to set the fire before I fell asleep.

The room was dead silent. My mother wasn't in, she must have left to work early. After a moment of rest my body began to shake. I got up and lighted the fireplace and then I looked around for any food in sight.

My mother must have finished the burnt loaf of bread I brought home yesterday.

My stomach was throbbing with hunger, I clutched my side and hugged myself as I lay on the make shift bed we had made on the floor. I could feel my rib cage protruding out against my skin. I had lost more weight and was nothing more than skin and bones. If we carried on like this I would disappear.

The next few days went by slowly and painfully. I would stretch out broken pieces of bad bread throughout the day. While I lost more and more of myself to hunger my mother had somehow stayed the same size.

I was beginning to grow suspicious of her. How was it she wasn't starving like I was?

By the end of the week I had finally gotten my first pay. After some deductions it was less than I had anticipated but it was something at least.

I bought some meat at the market and some bread from the bakery on the way back. It was exhilarating to finally be able to feed myself without scavenging.

When I got home I was surprised to see my mother sitting by the table. She hadn't set the fire and she was shaking slightly.

I rushed to her and set the meat and bread in front of her. I expected her to be happy but she looked far from impressed.

"Did you spend all your money already?" She asked with a withdrawn expression on her face.

"No," I still have a bit.

"Let me see," She placed her hand out to me and I took out the money in my pocket and gave it to her.

She quickly counted all the money and then she pocketed it.

"What are you doing? Are you planning to buy more food for us?" I asked. Something felt off and I was suddenly nervous of her behaviour.

"No, I'm collecting my rent," She replied in a crisped tone. She then stood up and made her way to the door.

It took me a few seconds to register what she had said.

"Rent? I've been bringing us food every day. I've been taking care of us!" I rushed to her. "What are you going to do with that money?"

She was already leaving for work but she stopped in her steps and turned around to look at me. This time I didn't see my mother, I saw a stranger who was looking at me like I was a burden.

"Food? You mean that burnt bread you bring in every day?" She laughed. "I throw them away every time. And I think it's fair that you finally take care of me and give me some money for a change. If it weren't for you I would be married and living a better life with Hernandez."

The mention of her lovers name angered me and I felt like killing him. It slowly sunk in that my mother regretted my existence and the thought paralyzed me. Who I am without her?

"Since you're earning now, I expect you to pay rent every week plus food and supplies. After all those years taking care of you and you dare question me?" She spat out in disgust. "You know what, you don't deserve this."

She then marched past me and grabbed the bag of meat from the table. I attempted to stop her but she was not emaciated like me and she pushed me away easily.

When the door slammed I howled in frustration and threw the bread I bought at the door in anger.

Fresh tears ran down my face and I rushed outside to see her get into a car at the end of the street.

All that hard earned money gone and now I was left with a loaf of bread to last the week. I sank to my knees wondering what I had done to deserve this.

I must have fallen asleep because I woke up shivering with my cheek pressed against the sandy footpath.

I quickly sat up and was about to rush inside when I noticed a glass bottle with white liquid in front of me.

I picked it up and stared at it curiously. Was it milk? I brought it to my nose and then I tasted some. It was definitely milk but who had left it here?

I looked up but there was no one around.

I rushed inside and stared at the bottle. I couldn't remember the last time I had milk. It was too expensive and the only poor people who had milk were the ones who reared cows.

I took a sip and then another and before I knew it I had finished the bottle. The next morning I got up earlier than usual feeling more refreshed than ever.

I took a bite of some bread and watched my neighbours walking into town.

My eyes widened when I saw three girls walking down the street carrying the same milk bottles in little baskets. They had long brown hair braided to the side and their faces were pink as they talked to each other and laughed.

I guessed them to be sisters as their features were some what similar. They were all very pretty but the tallest one caught my eye immediately. Her brown hair gleamed like gold in the sun light and her smile was infectious.

I realized I was smiling as well after they had left.

Once I was back from work I waited by the window hoping I would see those girls again. The sky had gotten darker and I was beginning to lose hope when I heard some laughter from a far.

I peaked through the curtains and there they were, walking back with empty baskets in their hands.

They soon passed by my place and I found myself following them out of curiosity. They lived much further from town and the walk was longer than I'd expected but after a while we reached a small house with a farm stretched out behind it.

I followed soundlessly, sneaking past the gate and hiding in the shadows. Through the window, I watched with glassy eyes the vision of the perfect family I never had.

The three girls sat by the table and their mother served them cooked soup, some meat and vegetables generously. My mouth watered at the sight and I watched them hold hands and recite something before eating.

My gaze shifted from the soup to the tallest girl I liked looking at and my heart stopped beating because she was looking my way.

I took a step aside and pressed my body up against the wall behind a bush.

"She couldn't have seen me."

My heart was beating so hard I was afraid it would explode.

I stayed in place until they were done, praying that her father wouldn't come out and kill me. When the back door opened I almost jumped.

"Mum, the milk's gone bad I'm throwing it away. And there are no leftovers to keep, everything's finished," I heard a heavenly voice and my breathing seized when the beautiful girl walked my way. She was holding two milk bottles and a bag in her hands but she didn't throw it away. Instead she placed them on the ground a few feet away from me.

She didn't look at me but she paused for a while. Time stood still as we both breathed in the same air in silence. I inhaled her scent and it enveloped me in a bliss I never knew existed.

In that moment I forgot my aching stomach and the food in her hands. I didn't want her to leave, I wanted to savour this moment forever but it was too good to be true.

She eventually got up and went back inside leaving me with some milk, cooked food and something brewing in my chest which I've never felt before.

Hey Inzaynies. Can you guess who this is and who those girls are? If you can't you need to read the first story again lol

Anyway I thought it would be interesting to put in a back story for Zayn which will explain his craziness in the first book so let me know your thoughts on that. 

The next chapter will be a cont of the first one and I really enjoyed reading your comments. I wanted to reply to your guesses but then it would be a spoiler. Don't worry the next chapter will be up soon and thanks for all the support. Love you guys