Emma rubs her belly. She’s hungry. The stale bread barely filled her stomach.

She never ate such a disgusting piece of bread before. It was bitter and hard. The ingredients that were used were questionable since it came out as black bread.

Emma was spoiled by her parents, and her family had no difficulty with money.

Everyday, she would eat what she desired to eat. Her mother was a wonderful cook and was

able to create a variety of delicious dishes. On the occasions that she didn’t feel like eating at home, she would just go out to eat.

This was the first time she ate something such as a stale black piece of questionably made bread. But it sated her hunger.

Time passes and her stomach calls out for food again. This causes Emma to be in a dilemma. She thinks hard on how to get food, but only frustration follows.

The lady with the knife didn’t show up, but Emma doesn’t want to be in such a situation again. She didn’t even want to steal in the first place, but her mind went blank while her body moved. If the lady didn’t come at her with a knife, Emma might have even returned the bread when the lady told her to stop.

If she isn’t willing to steal, how will she get food to feed herself? Even if she steals now, would she have to continue stealing forever? This isn’t the solution.

There has to be another way.

But right now, in this dreamland, she’s in the body of a small child. What can she do to make money? Should she beg? Emma’s pride is too much to allow her to do that.

Emma thinks for a bit, and decides to ask people if they need help in exchange for food. She would have prefered money, but she wants food to eat first. Her stomach pains are becoming worst.

Truthfully, it’s not a horrible stomach pain. Many people would feel this pain when they’re hungry and haven’t eaten something for a while. Some people feel even worst pain from not eating for a longer period of time.

But remember that Emma has been well taken care of for all her life. She doesn’t handle pain well.

Emma takes steps towards the entrance of the alley. This time, she goes in the opposite direction of the stall that sells the stale black bread.

She walks for awhile before seeing a stall that sells dried meat. She approaches the stall owner.

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“What do you want? If you have no money, then scram!” The stall owner says while looking up and down her body. He only sees a penniless girl, coming to beg for food.

Emma stops her approach. “I want to exchange my help for food.” say Emma.

“Help? Why would I need your help? I don’t need it. Now stop blocking the front of my stall. You are blocking my business.” The stall owner says while flicking his hand towards her like he’s shooing away a stray dog.

She clenches her small fists. Emma feels humiliated and anger from the way she’s treated, but she doesn’t do anything, She’s never been in such a situation before. People would usually be glad to help her, but she’s now being treated worst than dirt.

Emma can only walk away. She sees people glancing at her, but they all look away, returning to their own business.

Emma continues to ask stall owners if they could give her food in exchange for help, but they all reject her. Some would be nicer and just reject the offer, but some others weren’t that nice. At one of the stalls, a stall owner actually kicked her on her leg before pushing her on the floor. He then proceeded to laugh. He laughed at her.

She wanted to do something, but she didn’t. She didn’t know what she could do. Hit him? She’s in the body of a small child, while he’s a grown adult. It wouldn’t have turned out good. So Emma could only endure.

Emma limped while she trudged on the path. She gave up on asking to exchange help for food. Tears could be seen welling in her eyes as she slowly walked. Why? Why is she in this situation? Why is she dreaming such a horrible dream? All she wants right now is to wake up.

She walks past an alley, when she hears thudding and grunting noises. Emma turns her head to look towards the noise in the alleyway.

She sees a scary man slamming down his fists onto the forehead of an old man. The old man has blood running down his forehead, where the violent man punched him. The old man’s lips are ripped and nose is blood from the previous punches.

“Stop!” Emma yells as she sees a young man, with a scar on his cheek, punch out towards the old man’s stomach.

The young man doesn’t stop. He punches the old man, causing the old man’s back to bend farther.

“Uh.” The old man grunts. While his body is shaking, the old man turns to Emma and says, “R..run.”

Run? Emma doesn’t move. The actions of the young man with the scar and the violent looking man shocks her. They’re beating up an defenceless old man. What in the world is wrong with them.

Emma finally jolts back when she sees the young man coming towards her. “Hey there. Want to join in for the fun?” The young man says with a devilish grin on his lips.

Fear. Emma feels fear as the young man decreases the distance between them. Emma turns and yells, “Help! Someone help!”

She watches as passersby stop in their steps for a brief moment before quickly walking away. They only gave her a glance. They didn’t want to be involved in this mess.

Emma feels helpless. How could people be so heartless.

She hears the young man laugh. “No one’s going to help. Now come here.” The young man says while reaching out his hand to grab her.

In the corner of her eyes, she sees two people dressed in a uniform. She runs in their direction. Emma reaches them and pleads, “They’re beating up an old man! Help!”

The two man in uniform look at her as she breathes heavily. “Get out of our way.” One of the man says.

Emma is in shock as the man in uniform pushes her on the shoulder. The force was so much that her feet lifts off the ground before her body slams back down onto earth.