by Hadduzh
The night sky was the colour of tar, enclosing the town in a cloak of darkness.
Stars were sprinkled in the sky like jewels on a crown.
Every person was snuggled up in bed, with the sandman watching over their dreams; all except one.
A small girl was wondering the dark streets, shivering in the chilly night air.
There was no use for her to go to bed, she didn’t have one, or any parents to love her.
The streets were her home.
As she passed an alleyway, she heard a whimper come from within it.
Her instincts were to keep walking, but it was as if a force of nature was dragging her to the source of the sound.
Turning sharply on her heel, she started to make her way down the alley way.
Out of nowhere, some kind of nocturnal bird let out a brutal screech, making her quicken her pace.
When she was halfway down the alleyway, she stopped abruptly and strained her ears.
There it was again, that strange whimpering noise.
She looked to her left.
Nothing.
She looked to her right.
Something.
The odd noise was coming directly from a cardboard box that was falling apart.
The girl crept up to the box and quickly flipped it open.
Nestled inside it was a tiny puppy, trembling in the cold.
The puppy looked up at the girl, it’s eyes shining brightly.
The girl lent down to stroke the dogs shaggy coat, her eyes glistening with tears.
The small creature nuzzled it’s nose into her hand, and her face broke into a wide grin.
She picked up the dog and held it close to her chest in a warm embrace.
She closed her eyes and spun around with joy.
She had a new companion.
Muddied Waters 