Ariana loved winter but tonight was colder than usual. Work had been extra stressful today. She had to work a double shift and the restaurant had been crazy busy. She grabbed her things and headed out.
There she was again. The infamous beggar of EastVille town. But everyone referred to her as the "Old Lady of the Night". She comes out only at night. No one knows where she goes during the day. She's a little bit of a mystery in their small town.
Ariana's parents used to scare her when she was little saying she was a ghost roaming the real world because she had unfinished business. But that was a long time ago and things were different now.
She dropped what a few dollars into the Old Lady's basket and proceeded to the small condo she rented a few months ago.
"You should smile more, if not in a couple of years you'll look just like me". She turned around and met the mischievous glint in her eyes. There were rumors that she was deaf and dumb but apparently they were fake.
"Well, maybe it wouldn't be so bad, I could totally pull off a hot hobo".
The Old Lady looked her up and down, "Maybe, but this town only has room for one hot hobo and I already got that role Hun".
Ariana laughed at that as she turned and left. She had forgotten how that even sounded. She had been a mess since she lost her parents two years ago. The bank had taken everything since her mother had taken a loan to pay for her Dad's treatment. She had spent weeks begging and they had agreed to let her keep the house if she would he able to make monthly payments and they had to be on time. The last part had sounded like a threat but she was in no place to say otherwise.
He was getting better and they had both got out to celebrate that night but they never made it back.
She was just accepted into her dream school and was leaving the next month but everything changed with a single knock on her door.
Her thoughts wandered to the Old Lady of the night as she got into bed that night. She wondered what her story was. Had she lost everyone like her, was that why she spent her life begging and was she right, Was Ariana going to look like her in a few years. She closed her eyes hoping her dreams would be better than reality.
The bell chimed indicating someone had entered the restaurant. Of all the people to stop by, why did it have to be him. There's no other way to describe Jake Thompson other than he was a horrible person. Being the privileged product of two extremely wealthy families, he always got what he wanted. What was he even doing here. Not to talk down on the restaurant but this place was beneath him.
And because luck was always against her,she was tasked with serving him and his friends.
She headed over to their table and just like he had done everyday for the past ten years of her life, he mocked and humiliated her. She really did hate him but she hated herself more because she was never brave enough to stand up to him.
Finally the day was over. Luckily she made more money from tips today. She took thesame route as yesterday hoping to see the Old Lady, she really needed to ask what her name was.
When she got closer to the place where she usually sat she was met with with a horrible sight. Jake and his friends were there.
Her basket was in shreds and the little money she managed to make were scattered on the floor and the douchebags were laughing. Seriously what was wrong with some people. Enough was enough. She looked around, an old baseball bat, how convenient.
She grabbed it. "Fourteen years, you humiliated me and I did nothing but it was fine because I could handle but now you're picking on an old helpless woman and I won't have that"
Jake looked at her like she was stupid and burst into laughter. Like a switch was turned on, his minions joined him.
"And what are you going to do about it, little mouse?"
She really hated that nickname. Adrenaline was pumping hard in her so she swung hitting and breaking one of the windows of his very expensive car.
His minions tried to take the bat away from her but she was averagely crazy at the moment and she kept on swinging.
"Apologize to her right now or your car won't be what I hit next".
He didn't move so she swung again breaking another window.
"What is your problem, we were just having a little fun", he said looking a little scared. Bullies like him were always the scariest until someone stood up to them.
"Apologize now", she gritted out
"I'm sorry for insulting you and calling you a worthless beggar and for ruining your basket and throwing your money on the ground "
"Good boy, now make a charitable donation to her"
"B-u-t"
"Right now", she screamed
He emptied his pocket and got his minions and drove off.
Coward
She turned to the old woman, "Are you okay?"
"Yes, thank you, that was amazing, what you did, did you see how frightened he was. I thought he would pee his pants ", she laughed
Ariana smiled," Don't you have any family to take care of you, there might be other Jakes and I won't be here"
"Actually, I do have a very large family and I'm trying to help them "
"I don't understand "
The Old Lady continued, " I run an orphanage, my mother used to be in charge and I took over after her. The place is a mess and whatever money I make I use it to feed everyone. We don't have sponsors so I beg for alms during the night to help out, I've been doing it for as long as I can remember".
Ariana was shocked, she never would have imagined.
She had spent the last six months trying to get back a house like that would bring her parents back and here was a woman who had been mocked and ridiculed but even by her yet had dedicated her life to helping children.
And in that moment she realized she had been fighting and holding on for the wrong reasons.
"I've got some money, it's not much but it should be able to fix up the place and attract some people "
"Oh honey, I couldn't possibly take your money "
"You can and you will, as a member of the hot hobos association it is my duty to help you out"
The Old Lady laughed at that, " You're a God sent, your parents must be really proud of you"
Tears welled up in her eyes, touching the necklace her mom gave her, "I hope they are".
She looked up to the sky.
"Marianna"
"What?"
"My name is Marianna"
She smiled, this was fate. Marianna was beautiful name but to her she was always going to be the Old Lady of the Night.