Nomads Journal

You see a man sitting in front of an Adult Film store. You can tell the wooden bench is aching his bones. There is no reflections around him as the store windows are blacked out. The man looks raggedy, homeless. There is a sign by his feet that says "Veteran Any Help Appreciated".

People walking by ignoring the man, children mocking his looks, a few elderly that pass put change into is cup and tell him its for a meal.

 

This mans name is Jonathan Rook. The local towns hero who fought in the war and made it back home a broken man. Why he came back to TornCity is unknown considering the kind of place it is. Maybe this is a chance for him to start fresh or maybe the whole thing was a mistake.

Asha hurried along the sidewalk, her purse strap crossed over her shoulders while her hands clutched it tightly at her side.  It was a musty night in Torn City, and at this late hour only vagrants and troublemakers hung out loitering.

 

She steadied her pace as she hurried home from work trying to make it in time to the subway.  She kept her head forward while her eyes stared down watching her feet move in quick steps on the ground.  She would glance up once in a while to make sure there were no obstructions in her way. 

 

The bright neon lights of an adult video store blinked on and off.  Asha slowed her pace as she noticed the man sitting on the bench looking warn down.  Her eyes skimmed over the sign that stated he was a veteran needing help.

 

She was going to walk on by until she remembered how her grandfather and father had fought in times of war, and suddenly she felt compassion for this quiet man sitting there.  She tried to fight her urge to stop but gave in reluctantly once her foot fell right in front of him.

 

"So your a veteran huh?  What war did you fight in?"  Asha half smiled trying to be polite as possible.