Elena

• Sadie Gill, Grade 7
• Short Story
• 2019

I am getting brutish looks from every angle, from everybody.
I have nowhere to sleep and I don’t want to beg.
People walk past me and pull their children closer to them, like I’m a dangerous monster.
I have no money and no home. I’m dirty and I probably smell.
I am barely surviving out on the streets.
A piece of food and a bottle of water will get me through the day.
I’m lucky to receive money from people passing by and I pray for those generous people.
I have no education, I can’t event spell my own name.
I need help, not judgmental glares.

My name is Elena.
I don’t know my last name because my parents abandoned me in 2004 on the streets of Melbourne.
I have never had parents or a carer or anybody who loved me.
I have learned how to take care of myself but I struggle.
I always feel faint, my skin is pale and my bones are showing through my torn shirt.
I feel like I’m slowly dying, painfully and slowly.
I cant find help, help.
I am not only struggling on the streets, but I’m scared out here.
I can’t tell what’s going to happen to me, and if something were to happen no one would care.
I am suffering pain.
Mentally and physically.
I don’t know what path I am going to follow in the future but so far it looks dark, scary and not worth living.

I ask myself everyday, do I really want to live, or would death be brighter than my situation.
I’m not sure if I should keep living. I’m really not sure.
What is the point of living if you are suffering and in pain.

A man in the streets came up to me and offered me some alcohol and a cigarette.
He said it would make me feel better.
I took the offer seeing that I probably wont have a very long life anyway.
He has been the only person that took my happiness into consideration.
He was right.
I felt amazing… but not for long.
I feel like I have an instinct to trust him, anyway if something were to happen to me I don’t really mind.
In all honesty I wish my life could be over.
I have been invited to meet the man from the streets in the 5th alley lane on tram street.
I know what I’m going to do, I’m going to go meet him there.
I don’t care what happens to me weather it be good or bad or even death, but I do have an instinct to go and no one can stop me.