Jayne

Jayne steps off the bus - it had been a long, 12-hour ride and she was exhausted but exhilarated. She was finally out of that podunk town! Jayne takes a deep breath and looks around, a hand resting protectively on her swollen belly. Oh gosh, there are so many people around!

Jayne grips the straps of her backpack and makes her way out of the bus station. The urban city is… not what she expected. There are cars and people everywhere! Jayne feels so stupid, she should have saved enough to buy a phone before coming here. But she barely afforded the bus ticket, so…

"First things first. A place to stay." Jayne whispers, ignoring the tremble in her voice.

"Hey - psst. Over here," a rough voice calls. Jayne turns around and peers down the dark alley.

"Hey little lady, you need a place to stay? Come closer." A figure is standing in the shadows, beckoning to her.

Jayne edges closer, her heart pounding. "I do need a place to stay, but I - I don't have a lot of money."

The suspicious man is walking towards her now. Jayne can smell stale alcohol. She turns to run from the alley, but she's suddenly pushed hard from the back. Jayne rolls to protect her belly and sore breasts, scrapping her cheek and right leg against the unforgiving bricks. Jayne scrambles backward, her hands held up in fear, but the man just rips her backpack from her - no! The backpack has everything she owns it!

A strong voice shouts from the alleyway, and a new person comes running. The suspicious man turns and runs in the opposite direction.

Jayne slumps against the brick wall, tears welling in her eyes. She looks up at the newcomer, blood trickling down from the scrape on her right cheek. "I've only been here for a few minutes, and I've already lost everything!"