Continuation

Dalty made it out the door of the corner store and all the way to the beginning of Albert Street before he collapsed.  There was a chocolate bar clutched in his hand and a soda peeking out of his coat pocket.  The soda was stolen and the chocolate bar was paid for.  Dalty had never been one to steal, but he could only afford one of the two, and he needed both.  As he lay there on the ground unconscious, snow began to fall.1

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -2

Jesse banged down the phone in anger.  Why did she tolerate this?  Why did she take this week after week?  She pounded her fists on the matress.  Then suddenly she stopped, letting hot tears slide down her face.  One hand gripped the opposite arm tightly to keep her from doing it again.  Her grip was so tight that her nails dug into her skin.  Why did it feel so good?  Was this all she was meant for, Jesse thought to herself?  Was she only here to live through pain after pain?  Maybe she was.  The nails dug a little deeper.  What was there to live for, after all?  Nothing.  Everything in her life only brought her grief.  Her nails pumped up and down, using momentum in their favour.  Thoughts flew around Jesse's head, every minute getting more convinced that this world didn't need her.  When she looked at her arm, four bloody spots sat where her fingernails had been pushing.  Jesse stared at her arm for a full minute.  Then she made the decision and started on her way to the corner store.  She needed rope.3