Miracle

It was a clear, sunny day. Actually a great day to look out over the small bay as it was absent of the slightest hint of fog. The only fog that existed today was that which was inside her head. But, sitting in the cool morning air was allowing her mind to clear a bit. She had a little time to painfully gather herself before she began the day’s routine. At least she had the she had made it this far – the first stop of the day It was an important stop in her daily existence. She sat on the damp, cool cement curb waiting. She tried to put the pieces of last evening together in her mind. How did she allow this to happen again? Ah, yes… it was coming back in pieces inside her aching head as she looked at her worn layers of clothes. The telltale sign of red wine remained in several places. The evening started coming back more quickly to her like a movie in her mind. She remembered that she was just preparing to leave the streets for the evening when she encountered the two men in front of the market. They were leaving the store and she couldn’t resist one last opportunity to help maintain her existence. She asked them for some change. Harmless enough. When they turned to her, it was apparent that they had been drinking heavily and were carrying bags that seemed to contain more intoxicants to continue their evening fest. They were casually dressed but appeared to have been well-off by their meticulous grooming. It was easy for her to distinguish a person’s status after all these years. One turned to the other and mumbled something about nuisances. However, the other didn’t seem to notice. Without much thought he reached into one of the bags and handed her a dark green bottle and laughed the words “Enjoy your evening!” The first man began swearing about giving a thirty dollar bottle of wine to a “vagrant.” Her memory tuned in to the word and focused on its meaning. She remembered feeling a slight twinge at the word even at the time, but tightly grasped the offering and made off into the darkness. She knew she should not have taken it but convinced herself that she would sell it for some desperately needed money as she hurried along toward the dimly lit back allies. “Well,” she thought, “that did not work out as planned” as it was clear the temptation contained in the glass was far greater than her other needs at the time. She looked down at her dirty weathered hands and remembered them as they were shaking as she struggled against even smelling what the bottle contained last night. It had been a long time since she left that path – the drugs and alcohol. She surely did not want to relive it, but she just couldn’t resist it. It had been so long. It would be ok. She thought she would just have a little bit and would give the rest away – maybe to Mr. B. the next day. He was always so nice. And she talked herself into believing it. It sounded harmless, didn’t it? She didn’t remember much after opening the fancy foiled top and removing the cork with an old screwdriver and guzzling down the dark potion inside. Annie shuddered at the thought of falling back into that world and realized it had not changed for her. It had been a year since she had pulled herself out of that hole. Her head was aching and she could still smell the foul liquid coming from her breath. She hoped Mr. B. would not notice her stench or current condition but she was wearing the evidence so prominently on her soiled clothes. However, they were the only ones she had. No options. She tried to forcefully wipe the stains away with her hand. No luck. She desperately depended upon his kindness and generosity. These were the things that kept her out of the missions that were her only other alternative. She had been there before, lived that alternate life. It was a prison that kept her in contact with that other world with those who always had the medicine to make the pain go away. That prison she swore she would never reside in again. However, she always seemed to return there or someplace like it. What could keep her from ever going back to that old life again? She had come so far this time. Something very strong… maybe something very special.