Chapter 1. Rain

   A cool breeze blew through the lively town as blaring music played in the background. People ate as their stomachs grew full and laughed around a table in glee, while waitresses passed by to clean their plates to replace them with new ones. The aroma of delicious fattening food soiled the air, as the women danced until their feet ached. The streets were littered with confetti and smiles as the small town rejoiced in its annual celebration. A celebration, a small frail boy stood cornered in the tight and dirty alleyways never experienced. 

To many, this was a time of merry and pleasure, but to a boy who only lived in the shadows all his life, he never saw the joy in this festivity. The children ran through the streets in brilliant clothing decorated with jewels, while he only wore rags. The aroma of food filled his lungs and rattled his empty stomach. The sight of the feast made him want to lunge forward and tear apart every single meal. He could practically taste the unfamiliar dishes resting on those ceramic plates. The blaring music ruptured his eardrums and drowned the noises of suffering in the alleys.

'How lucky are they?' are the words that always appeared in his mind. They never had to worry about food or wonder where they might sleep that night. They never had to face the evil that lurked through their passageways because of the walls that protected them from the outside world. While he always had to. It was almost humorous how these nice and innocent folks were gluttonous at times like this, but shunned him at the slightest ask for some of their meals. They were truly lucky. 

This was a sight he grew accustomed to. When he was younger, he dreamed of being part of the pretty picture in front of them. Eating greasy food piled with adults who weren't pestered by his existence. He could sing and dance all he wanted, and then fall asleep on a nice soft bed with a full stomach. Of course, it was all wishful thinking. It was a celebration of privilege, something that he would never be part of. He realized that all he could do was remain in the background, envying those who had been blessed with a better life. This small fantasy became resentment, a constant reminder that tormented his psyche without fail every year. He could never be a part of this, and he saw this festivity for what it truly was.

The boy's expression only grew somber as time passed. He couldn't stand the sight of it anymore, and quickly made his way deeper into the alleyways. The sounds of joy and the smell of food faded into the background. Now replaced with violence and the agony from the ill, mixed with the small scent of death. As he turned a corner, the picture of the lively town now seemed like a lost dream.