A NORTH STAR NEW YEAR

January 1st, xxxy

NO ONE HAS BEEN poisoned yet. It is a good thing. No one has been poisoned or abducted and sold or almost kidnapped and killed. No one has been poisoned. It is a good thing.

S.C looks at the party around her: the gown she wears doesn't itch but it is past her knees, flows between her legs and hinders fluid movement.

She wants to tear it or wear something shorter but beggars, as she once heard a gang leader say, can not be choosers.

She is not huddled in a corner but she hunches and twists her arms around herself and tries to be blend in but the beautiful blue patterned gown is doing a horrible stealth job.

She hasn't touched the food in front of her. For today, she doesn't taste it before her friends and for today, they don't bother about safety. Her friends as always, eat before her. She will have the leftovers.