To say today has been one of the worst ones in a while, would be a massive understatement!

After a day of feeling like everything's going wrong, I think I'm finally at my breaking point.

Of course the shelter sadly had no rooms free again this morning, which was expected.

Then I went to see Joseph hoping desperately that I can do some work for him since my cash had completely depleted, only to find the normally lively bakery was closed.

Deciding to put off dealing with the painful hunger I was feeling at the time, I pushed forward and went over to the park.

Despite it being sunny it was also a cold 15 degrees (Celsius) today, not many were there for me to help. One lady got me to walk her dog but that only landed me $5.00 towards the food I was really needing.

So here I am, so hungry that I feel like I could be sick and cold enough that my face is going numb. I endure the icey walk towards the soup kitchen in dire need of the warm food they offer.

Of course, my luck doesn't come back in the moment I arrive there. Walking throught the door I can see tables filled with others, and I can't help but notice the line is non existent as I go over to the counter.

"Hello. Could I please get a serving of soup please?" I ask politely, confusion slowly taking over my features when I see no food on display like normal.

"I'm sorry, we were over loaded due to the cold tonight. We don't have any hot food left." The young man informs me with a regretful look.

Hearing the pain in my stomache growl out between us, I decide to just nod his way and go by the shelter for warmth before heading to my bridge for the night.

As I'm walking through the doors I only just entered moments ago, the man from before runs over to me and grabs my shoulder from behind. The sudden contact makes me jump since I rarely have human contact. Giving me an apologetic look before clearing his throat awkwardly, he brings a fraction of light back into my night.

"Umm... We still have some bread rolls left. I know it's not much but would you like to have one?" He offers with a small smile, holding a roll in his hand towards me.

"Thanks." I say with a small smile, grateful I at least have something to put in my stomach now.

I walk out with my head hanging low, feeling defeated while I try to eat the first bit of food I've had all day.

When I'm a few blocks away from the shelter I see a group of people near the alleyway up ahead. History has proven to avoid people on Friday nights, since people do stupid things while drinking with others.

Deciding it's probably best to go around the group, I go to the road and start to wait for a break in the busy traffic. As the traffic light changes red, I look over to check the groups where abouts only to see them taunting a small guy that can't be more than 15.

The local idiots were calling out to him, taunting him down the alley. The light changes green and the traffic flows again, but I can't help the pull that tells me to keep an eye on how far they go.

Hearing the hurtful words and laughter continue, I quickly make my way closer without drawing attention. They have some nerve in them, to even start spitting on the poor kid who is clearly scared out of his mind by the giants around him.

I find my feet moving without my knowledge as I go closer to the group, deciding it's better I take their shit instead of this kid.

The moment one of them raises his hand to harm the shaking boy, I find my courage to interfere.

"Oi! Leave the kid alone!" I yell out, hoping to sound as fierce as I'm trying. Though by the drunken smile, I doubt it.

"Well well well, what do we have here fellas?" He whistles while looking at his friends. "Perhaps you can occupy our time then?"

I move closer to the group, making sure to stay in the kids view. I keep my hands behind my back as I walk over so only he can see them and start to gently wave my hand to the side, signally for him to leave.

"Sorry but I'm not interested. But there's a strip club on the corner if you're in need of a woman." I say as I see the kid shuffle on his bum to the side.

"I'm sure you could use the money more, me and my friends can pay you well for a good time babe." He says as he grabs my waist with both hands and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up in fear.

"Not interested." I tell him trying to remove his hands.

As I see the kid stand up and bolt down the street, I decide I need to make a quick exit. The guy keeps his hands firmly on me, making my panic rise to new levels.

Going for the most effective method to incapacitate a man, I lift my knee swiftly into his groin. The moment his hands let go to cup his surely aching balls, I turn to make a run for it.

Getting a whole two steps before hands grab me and slam me backwards to the floor. Groaning from the impact, I look up to see the other friends glaring at me.

The ball guy stands with a beyond furious look aimed my way. I can't help but cower as much as possible, the man hovers with his friends with a sick smile upon his face.

"That wasn't very nice. Since you just took away one option of entertainment, you'll just have to make up for it." He chuckles before he pulls his leg back and lands a hard kick into my side.

I can't even pretend it doesn't hurt like hell, I'm skin and bone and they're brute muscle on a binge.

When I feel like I've recovered, his mates and him start to kick everywhere that's in front of them. Keeping my arms over my face, I curl into a ball trying to protect myself as much as I can. Feeling boots hit all over my legs and body, I can't help but be grateful they're not hitting my head.

"Get the fuck away from her?!" A deep voice booms over the group making their actions holt.

"Who are you? Major Payne?" One slurs, laughing with his friends.

"I can be, if you want." The voice says before I hear the smack of impact and a loud groan that followed.

Looking up to see a muscular man that looked like he was straight out of the army, I can't help the but feel relief that he's here to help me and not them.

I see one of the guys on his arse, holding his nose as it gushes blood. All of his friends quickly help him up except for the prick that started all this. He looks ready to blow a fuse.

Not sure how this will all end, I shuffle my aching body backwards until I'm leaning against the alley wall. I suspect this is where I'll sleep tonight since moving is a painful process now.

"You're gonna pay for that!" He seethes before charging my saviour.

Hearing another smack makes my curiosity spike, looking up to see the lead dickhead on the ground holding his stomache coughing.

"Now fuck off and don't let me see you around here again." He tells them in a deathly calm tone that even scared me a little.

They scurry away with their injured friends so quick you'd think they were never even there in the first place. With the immediate threat gone and my adrenalin slowly, the severe pain my body is in comes back full force.

"Was that her bud?" The deep voice questions as I close my eyes and try to slow my breathing down.

"Yeah." A small voice says before I feel a timit hand on mine.

Quickly opening my eyes to be greeted with the boy from earlier, I can't help but give him a small smile.

He's okay.

That was all that mattered.

"I got my friends to come as quick as we could." He says quietly with a frown. "This is Eddy." The kid gestures to the giant man that saved me. "And this is Remy." He tells me pointing to a guy with long brown hair behind him. "And I'm Pat."

"Thanks kid. Are you okay?" I ask, hoping the group didn't scare him too much.

"I'm okay." He says sadly, while looking me over. "I'm sorry we didn't get here sooner." He whispers.

"Hey. It's okay. You ended up saving me so we're square." I smile at him hoping to soothe his worries.

"Miss, do you have a place we can take you? The hospital maybe?" The giant known as Eddy offers.

"Thanks big guy but I think I'll just stay here tonight." I give a weak smile, feeling exhaustion and hunger take over.

Next thing I know I'm being lifted high into the air, letting out a squeak from shock and the pain. I look up to see Eddy holding me bridal style before I feel a small hand grasp mine. I relax knowing it's Pat and he is with me too.

Moments later we go into the familiar doors of the shelter. At first I thought they were just going to dump me here but then I heard the ladies at reception greet the guys who came ro help me.

"Eddy, I didn't know you had a girlfriend." Rachel snickers at the big guy.

"Not my girlfriend, but she could use the doc or a first aid kit." He tells them before walking through a door that looks like it leads to a lounge area.

Sitting me down gently, Pat doesn't drop my hand once. Feeling him sit next to me still, I give his hand a small squeeze to let him know I'm doing okay.

"Oh my goodness!! Jean get the doctor in right now. Aria, what the hell happened?!" Rachel says as she grabs my face to make me look her way.

Seeing the worry is kind of nice, but all I want to do is sleep. I'm hungry, sore as hell and so damn tired.

"Some drunks started messing with Pat on his way home, she stepped in apparently. This is what they did before we got back to her." Eddy tells a sad looking Rachel.

"I got the doc Rach-" Jean walks in but halts her steps when she sees it's me. "Oh Aria." She gasps as her hands fly up to her mouth.

A woman walks with what I'm guessing is a medical bag before she tells Eddy to bring me to the nurses room for privacy. After being laid on the bed, she tells everyone to leave before she talks me through the examination.

"So you got very lucky. Nothing appears broken, but you will be very sore. Nothing some pain killers won't help with though. I'd like to check you over again another day to check the healing of it all though." She says kindly to me, handing me a packet of Nurofen and some water.

After taking 2 tablets I decide it's best to leave, I really don't need the reminder of what I'm so desperately wanting.

Walking over to reception, I see the girls talking with Eddy and Pat. Though as soon as they see me their conversation dies off.

"Thanks for the help, I'm going to head out now. See you tomorrow girls." I say as I start to hobble away, not really in the mood to be told the same thing as always.

"Wait! Aria wait!" Jean shouts as she runs over to me. "We were hoping you'd come by today, but then you didn't show up." She tells me making my brows draw together in confusion.

"Umm. Sorry Jean..." Not really sure why she was telling me that.

"We wanted to tell you a bed opened up!" She practically squeals making my breathing stop.

"W-what...?" I whisper.

This can't be right...

A room never opens up and when they do I'm always too late.

They had no beds free this morning.

"A bed in one of our rooms freed up after lunch today. We want to offer it to you!" She smiles at me, looking so happy her face might split in half.

"U-umm..." I stutter quietly, feeling my breathing get shallow at the over whelming sensation that's swiftly coursing through my veins.

"Ari, are you okay?" Rachel asks walking towards us as black spots start to invade my vision.

"Yeah..." I mumble moments before the black spots quickly take over all of my sight and I feel like I'm falling.

"Aria!"

Pat's shouting is the last thing I hear before I finally slip into unconsciousness.

☆☆☆☆☆☆
June 1st update is done!
Welcome to a story I'm releasing daily for the month of June 2018.

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Til tomorrow!
lilnickyc