Surviving
The sun was just peeping through the gray clouds, as New York City came to life that morning. Cars moved slowly down the streets taking people to their jobs. A growing problem in the city was the number of young people involved in crimes, running away from home and ending up in worse trouble and the rise of drug and alcohol abuse.
The crime rate had risen over the past ten years, gangs were popping up all over the city. But no one seemed to care. To them the teens were just troublemakers, that couldn’t be helped. The one thing all the kids had in common was that they had no one to love them.
They had no one to take care of them. Young girls on the streets fell victim to pimps, who would promise them everything they could imagine, and promise to take care of them. Pimps knew how vulnerable and impressionable the young girls were, and that’s who they prayed upon.
Though it doesn’t last long. And then the girls can’t get out. They must do whatever their pimp tells them to do. These young people felt all alone, in a world that rejected them. If there was a God, he surely did not love them. The people of the city thought these kids were nothing but trouble.
But the truth was they didn’t know any other life than the life they were living. Some even believed there was no hope for them, that they were doomed to live an unhappy life, rejected by the world.
Crystal had been born to drug addict parents. She was twelve now and was already following in her parent’s footsteps. The life Crystal was living was already taking its toll on her. She looked to be about seventeen.
She had developed physically at an early age. So, men didn’t question her age. They just wanted one thing, and she was easy. Just like most of the young girls on the streets she was sexually active and addicted to drugs.
Crystal had her own group of girls, that made money from selling their bodies to buy drugs and alcohol. A few of the girls held down waitress jobs, to pay for the rundown three-bedroom apartment that the seven girls shared.
It was a little cramped at times, but the girls didn’t mind for the most part. For some of them it was the only home they ever had. Crystal sat on an old worn couch in the dark quiet living room, the smell of stale cigarettes lingered in the air.
Early in the morning was about the only time Crystal had to herself. Most of the girls slept in late, due to working the night shift at the diner. She lifted her head to the sound of footsteps outside the apartment door.
The doorknob twisted and opened, Renea entered the apartment closing the door behind her. Renea had been Crystal’s friend since they were little. Renea and Crystal were the same age. “Where’ve you been?” Crystal asked, when Renea reached her.
Renea pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one, before answering her. “I stayed the night with Chris.” She replied flopping down on the couch. “I met some guys at a bar last night. I told them about you, and they want to meet us tonight.”
Renea explained, taking a long puff of her cigarette. Crystal called Renea her partner in crime. Many times, they worked the streets together. Crystal eyed Renea curiously. “What’s wrong with them?”
She asked, noticing that her friend was avoiding her watchful gaze. “You know, not all the guys I find have something wrong with them.” Renea replied looking at her finally. Crystal gave her an all-knowing look.
“How about those two guys last month, who wanted us to do all that weird shit?” Crystal asked, going on. “And that time you found those really old guys and my guy was half blind?” Still, she went on, “And that time-” But Renea cut her off.
“Okay you made your point. But these guys ain’t like that.” Renea responded going on, “There was two of them, and I’m thinking there gonna pay really good.” One of the bedroom doors opened from down a hallway and a young girl appeared stifling a yawn.
It was Kelly, she worked at the local diner with a few of the other girls but had lost her job, and she was picky when it came to prostitution, so she never did bring in much money. She mostly just stayed around the apartment, annoying the other girls.
“I’m gonna laugh if these guys you found turn out to be women or stand you up.” Kelly exclaimed gazing at Renea with challenging eyes. Renea glared at her. “I don’t see you doing anything, except mooching off us.” Renea stated coldly.
“I wouldn’t want to take your slut title away from you Renea, you’re so good at it.” Kelly explained mockingly, as she went into the kitchen. Crystal felt the tension growing, so she decided to intervene.
“Where are we meeting these guys at?” Crystal asked, trying to divert Renea's attention. Renea still glared at Kelly. “On the south side of town, near the ghetto.” Crystal rolled her eyes she knew the ghetto was at least four hours from there.
“Do you have money for the bus?” Crystal asked next. Renea finally looked at her. “Yeah, I got some.” Renea replied. Kelly snorted as she reappeared from the kitchen with a cup in her hands. “You got something to say?” Renea asked, turning her head to look at Kelly.
“Yeah, I’m going back to bed.” Kelly exclaimed disappearing down the hallway. “Bring some cigarettes back with you, and this time make sure you get menthol.” Kelly’s voice trailed off as she closed the door behind her. Renea rolled her eyes, sighing. She turned back to face Crystal.
“So what time are we meeting these guys?” Crystal asked, leaning back against the couch as she ran her fingers through her long wavy blond hair. “At eight.” Renea replied, puffing her cigarette.
There were seven girls including Crystal and Renea living in the three-bedroom apartment. They all had their horror stories. But they kept their past to themselves. There was no reason to tell each other why they didn’t live with their parents or talk about what they left behind.
All they had to do was investigate another’s eyes and know they had been through some kind of hell.
