Follow the Path of Gray (original story)

I don't think I will ever know how it exactly happened. It could have been someone playing a mean joke on the homeless girl, or someone who really wanted to make a difference in my life. But, I guess that's life. It's all one big mystery from the day you arrive, to the day you leave. By now you may be wondering what in the devil blazes I'm talking about. Well, I guess I might as well start from the beginning...
Hi, my name's Charlotte Iverson. I live in San Francisco. I'm homeless. If your still reading, I'm shocked, because once I say that part, everyone usually runs. Just to be clear I'm not a drunk or drug-addict. I'm just a 17 year old girl out of luck. I'm educated, but didn't graduate high school. It's on of my biggest regrets. Now your probably wondering, " why didn't you finish high school if it's your biggest regret?" I dropped out because I had to take care of my older and younger brother. Our older sister, Lindley, walked out on me and my 2 brothers when I was 12. She was sixteen, my older brother Jack was 14, and my younger brother Matt was 10. She walked out because my parents and her argued to much. She never looked back. She wouldn't even write us or return our calls, even when we called to tell her our parents died in a drunk-driving incident. I've vowed not to touch alchohol ever because of that. The 3 of us were alone, because in our small, idiotic family, no one wanted to take in the messed up kids. Jack, with his college savings, bought us a small apartment and dropped out of school. I soon followed, and got a job as a waitress at a local restaurant. We had Matt stay in school, even though according to teachers, he was a "problem child". Everything was fine for a year, but then Jack got called to the army. It was the worst year of Matt and mine's life. I took on another job as a maid for the Faramount Hotel. A year later, Jack died in an attack, so it was just Matt and me. He was always my favorite. He lit up every room just by smiling. Since I was only 16 and taking care of him, the state took him away from me. They told me I wasn't fit to be his guardian since Jack died. I've never cried harder in my life. He was my last family. blood-related anyway. Once he was taken away, and wouldn't let him talk to me, all the nearby non-creepy homeless people became a family. They looked out for me and would take care of me. Not something you see everyday. Now I was working 2 jobs, with no real sturdy career or home, so I spent free hours sitting on the corner asking people for money. Everyday was the same. I put my light brown hair into a bun or ponytail, put my maid uniform on, walk to Caltrain and get on the train. Then after 9 hours, I'd blow the side bangs out of my green eyes, and walk down the block to my waitress job. Then, if i had a free hour, I'd sit asking for money. I felt so pathetic, but I knew I needed it. Little did I know, that just across the country, my life was about to change.

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