This is a copyrighted work by Zeb_Carter and is not to be duplicated or copied, in part or in whole, to other sites without the explicit authorization from the Zeb_Carter.
*
I was on my way to the gym when I saw her again. She was young. She was standing in the middle of the median of the street with a sign. The sign said she was homeless and was asking for money or food. As I came to a halt I opened my window and raised my hand. I had a five in it. I could afford a five. She came trotting over. I handed her the bill.
"Thank you so much," she said.
"You're welcome." She nodded and turned totting back to the median.
I rolled up my window and went on when the light turned green. I continued on to the gym. Coming back I didn't see her. In fact, I didn't see her for some time. The next time I saw her she was just walking down the street, shoulders slumped dragging her feet. I pulled into the next parking lot she would pass and parked. I slowly got out of my car and walked to the side of the road. She would have to pass right by me or detour around.
She just walked up to me, almost running into me. She looked up at me, her face was full of despair. She looked to have given up. I smiled at her. Her eye sparkled for just as instant.
"Are you okay?" I asked softly.
"What?"
"Are you okay?"
"I guess..."
"When did you eat last?"
"I...I don't remember," she whispered collapsing to the ground at my feet. She was out cold.
Squatting, I picked her up. She weighed next to nothing. I carried her to the car. I put her in the passenger seat and belted her in. I didn't know if I should take her home or to the hospital. She was breathing just fine and her face wasn't slack. I took her home. If she didn't improve with a little sleep and some healthy food, then I would take her to the hospital.
When I got her home, I took her outerwear off. She had two pair of jeans and three blouses on, a sweater and a coat. Three pairs of sock and a pair of boots. She was a mess. She smelled, she was dirty and she looked very, very young. But then most women looked young to me. I'm sixty-eight, not really old to me, but to a youngster like this, I was as old as her grandfather.
Leaving her on the bedspread, I covered her with an old blanket and put a clean pillow under her head. She moaned at the warmth she was now feeling and snuggled down under the blanket and nestled her head on the clean pillowcase. I went to my desk and sat down in front of the computer and started to work on my latest story.
* * * *
I was asleep when I felt the bed move. I woke, looking around. I saw her, sitting up in the corner of the bed, arms wrapped around her legs as she just stared at me, fear in her eyes.
"I'm not going to hurt you," I said, not moving. "I'm going to get up now. I won't come near you. Would you like something to eat?" I rose and turned on the lights.
She looked at me, fear still present on her face and in her eyes. She nodded her head. I slowly went to the fridge and pulled a container of fruit out. I grabbed a fork and slowly went to the bed and bending over handed her the container and fork. She looked at me as she took the container.
"You're the man who gave me the fiver the other day," she said.
"Yes, I am. Would you like some water? Or coffee?"
"Water please?'
I pulled a cold water out of the fridge and handed it to her. She placed it on the bed in front of her as she started to eat her fruit.
"Eat slowly or you will get sick," I said sitting down in my desk chair.
I turned on the TV and put it on the news channel.
"Where am I?"
"You are in my home, it just happens to be a motel room."
"Why did you bring me here?"
"You passed out. I debated whether I should take you to the hospital, but you really weren't in any distress, just asleep. If you can keep that fruit down, I'll fix you something later."
"What if I don't want to stay?"
I got up and opened the curtains. It was raining outside.
"It's also very cold out there right now."
"I lived in worse," she replied.
"I believe it, but you can stay here as long as you want, no strings attached."
"That's what everyone says, but there are usually strings. Strings I don't like."
"I believe that also."
"But you are different, right?" she said sneering at me.
"Probably not. Although I am so old that I can barely get it up anymore without help from drugs."
"That doesn't prove anything."
"You're right, but I'm not a rapist. I have never forced women to do...well anything."
"Hmmfff," she replied with her mouth full.
"If you want to take a shower, go ahead, the door does lock." I got up and opened a drawer in the chest and pulled her out a clean towel. Then I pulled out a left over from my wife, a pair of flannel pajamas. "Here you can change into these after you shower. I can take your clothes and wash them."
"Why are you doing this for me?" she asked.
"I have been where you are...not long ago. I was kind of lucky, I was only homeless for a year, then I was eligible for my Social Security and I got a room here. I understand. And if you don't have a felony conviction, I'll even help you get a job."
"They don't want to hire me...I don't have an address..."
"You do now," I told her. "If you want."
Her eyes got big at that news. She was finished with the fruit. She looked around to see what to do with the empty container. I reach out my hand. She looked at me. I could still see the fear in her eyes, but she moved toward me and handed me the empty container. I turned and put it in the small trash can next to the desk. She didn't move back. She still kept her eyes on me but didn't retreat back to the head of the bed. She spent a few minutes studying my face. I just looked her in the eye as calmly as I could.
"I'm going to take you up on that shower," she said, pulling the towel to her and slowly getting off the bed and hurrying to the bathroom.
The door closed swiftly and I heard the lock click. I smiled as I turned to my computer and started to type. I heard the shower start and the curtain being drawn. I smiled. She had forgotten the pajamas. I grabbed them and put them on the floor in front of the door, then went back to my writing.
She was in the shower for a good forty-five minutes. I knew how she was probably feeling. I remembered the first shower I took after about three months without one. I stood there for a good half hour just letting the hot water beat down on my head. It felt so good just to be warm. After I washed, I felt even better. I washed my hair four times to really get it clean. I had to assume that's what she was doing.
I heard the door open. Without turning I pointed at the floor.
"Thank you," she said. I nodded.
The door closed. A little while later, it opened all the way and she stepped out still trying to dry her hair, she was a blonde. I couldn't tell until now. I went and got her another towel. She smiled as I handed it to her and took the wet one and hung it on the hook on the bathroom door. She didn't flinch as I had to work around her.
"Feel better?" I asked.
"Yes. Thank you very much."
"I'm Don," I said.
"I'm Beth," she replied yawning.
"Why don't you crawl under the covers and take a nap. Sleep as long as you want or need. I won't bother you, I promise," I said.
She nodded. I sat back at the desk. She went to the bed and pulled the covers down. Reaching down she ran her hand across the sheet.
"Smooth, soft," she whispered.
She looked up at me, smiled and lay down, pulling up the covers over her body. I turned back to my computer and started typing.
"What are you doing?" she asked softly.
"I'm a writer," I said over my shoulder.
"Are you famous?" I chuckled at her question.
