The lingering scent of chocolate made Emma feel warm inside. She sat on the stone steps outside the bakery and swallowed. She had not eaten anything in days. She stared at the autumn sunset. The stone steps were bathed in a golden glow. The brown leaves made them look even more beautiful.

Emma stood up reluctantly. Walking down the narrow path ahead of her, she shivered slightly. A dirty loose t-shirt clung to her slender body. Her brown khaki’s were raised from high above her waist, tied in a sloppy fashion in an effort to keep them from falling. Her black hair had not been washed in days. It was concealed underneath a worn Yankees cap.

Couples and families strolled by her in a quick manner, seeming to want to get out of the park before it became dark. Emma couldn’t understand why. She loved it best at night. It was the only time she could have a bench to herself to stare up at the glowing night sky. She rarely saw stars, but instead glowing clouds that absorbed the dazzling lights of skyscrapers in the city. She would sit in silence, tearfully, and wish to return home.

© 2009 Annayanna Biswas. Original for CCF. Biswas grants CCF first electronic rights for one month; CCF may archive the material indefinitely and include it in an eBook anthology.