undecided

Alice woke up when the Greyhound bus came to a stop. Taking a deep breath she grabbed her small suitcase and stepped off the bus. She had an appointment to look at an apartment. She had scribbled the address on the back of her hand. She had no idea how to get to that address. She walked toward the center of the bus station where she found a map. After staring at it for some time she decided to skip the subway and walk. She felt more comfortable above ground and on her feet.

She pushed through  the heavy door and stepped out onto the street. It was raining lightly and Alice took a deep breath taking in the somehow farmilar smell of fresh rain on asphalt. She tried not to stare at the city around her, not wanting to look like a tourist. She pulled her hood up and took off down the street.

      an hour later soaking wet she arived at the apartment that she hoped to rent. She was late and no one was there to meet her. Timidly she asked a old lady sitting at the close by bus stop where the library was, she needed to use the computer. The old lady mumbled something in a language Alice didn't recognize. 

it was quickly growing dark and alice was shivering. She walked to the end of the block and entered a small drugstore on the corner. She asked the clerk if there was a shelter nearby. The clerk gave her a funny look and shook her head.  defeated  Alice turned to go. 

"there's a place on 19th and avenue A." the answer came from a man who sat atop the trash can in the corner near the door. He was wrapped in a wool blanket that was stained and torn. Alice hadn't noticed him when she walked in. She stepped closer, " Would you be so kind as to point me in the right direction?" she said as she stepped towards him. " Who the fuck are you and why are you looking at me? get the fuck away from me you old dirty whore" the man screamed. His eyes had become wide and he began to shake back and forth.

" pardon me" alice whispered and and pulled open the door. Shaking off the unnerving feeling she began to walk again. She saw that she was standing on avenue C and 18th street. "ok"she whispered to herfelf, Ican find this place. She walked out into the night and headed for the shelter relieved she had somewhere to stay the night. Tomorrow would be better.