This old man is making me uncomfortable I wanted to move but I couldn't I wanted to yell but I couldn't I was just paralyzed from fear. The whole alleyway turned black and smelled of something disgusting.
"Hey kid you ok?" Called the old man
I couldn't bring the words to my mouth and I started shaking. The old man got up and started walking over to me he was too close, but I cowered in fear
The old man looked at me "Well shit I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you" he turned around and laid back down in his trash pile
The tension from before was gone and before I knew it, I took a seat in a trash pile and relaxed. I took quick glances at the old man to make sure he was still laying in the trash, but he was asleep in an alley like this with no hesitation. He was a mid sized man with no hair. His face was scratched up and he had light facial hair. His clothes were just as scratched up and torn up. But he is able to sleep peacefully even in these conditions. I felt no fear towards this old man right now only respect 30 minutes later the old man woke back up and sat in the alleyway.
He just sat there until he turned and saw me sitting on a pile of trash next to his
"Kid what are you still doing in this shithole?" He asked after a minute passed he tossed me a dirty look "Don't tell me you still scared why the hell are you here then"
I look him in the eye "This shithole is like heaven compared to my parents"
He started laughing "I like you kid what did they take from you this time?"
"Nothing I never had anything, to begin with, I doubt my dad notices that I'm even gone and my mom is glad I left of my own free will."
He was still smiling "Nah they will be here any minute now you got you a phone on hand?"
"No…"
"No? A flip phone?"
"No…"
He started laughing "Wow every kid has one of those these days I can't believe it"
I turned my head "My mom says I don't need one and my dad wouldn't ever spend that much money on me"
He sighed "Well I understand those reasons but these days the world is a lot more dangerous little buggers like you should keep one in order to be safe"
"My parents don't care if I'm safe or not even I can tell I was an accident with the way they treat me" I cried
The old man saw me crying "Don't cry for those pieces of shit kid they don't deserve your tears"
"I don't know what I did wrong why do my parents hate me so much" I cried
"...."
"I tried telling myself this was normal for so long but I can't take this anymore!" I yelled my eyes full of tears and snot running down my nose I let it all out " I met this girl she changed my life she inspired me to try to change but I couldn't do it my mom knows I'm suffering because of my appearance but she won't let me change it"
The old man took it all in and we both sat in a silence only broken by my tears sliding down my face and falling onto the cold ground that reminded me winter was coming.
"Can I see your hair kid" the old man reached out and grabbed my hair anyway "I thought so is this why your mom won't let you cut your hair?" He asked
"Yes" I nodded
"I bet she had some part in this and she's trying to avoid any questions about this" the old man sighed
"How did you-"
"She can get into trouble for child neglect that damn sorry excuse of a mother it's probably too late for that but the fact that she still wants you to hide it is disgusting!" The old man yelled
It scared me but I already had my resolve "Old man can you cut it please?" I begged
"I'm sorry kid but I can't help you destroy your life" He turned around "You'll probably end up homeless or worse"
"Old man, please I decided that I wanted this no matter what" I continued to beg
I couldn't be bothered by what that bitch wanted from me deep down I already knew that was the case but I wanted to believe in her.
"I only have a pair of scissors so I can only do a massive ass trim" the old man smiled
"Thank you" I smiled for probably the first time today
The whole process was a nerve wrack for me. I was sat down on a taller pile of garbage and every few seconds a large amount of hair dropped down. It felt chilly up there and soon only small fragments of hair were dropping. When all was said and done I had a pile of hair that reached up to my waist and no hair in my face it felt amazing. I touched my head and I could no longer grab onto my hair I was just happy.
"Damn kid you had a lot more hair than I thought" The old man laughed "So what do you think?"
"Thank you it's been years since my hairs been this light I almost forgot the feeling" I turned around to look at him and noticed the sun coming down
"Alright kid it's about 5 or 6 it's time for you to go home but you know where to find me if you ever have any trouble," He said
"Ok Old man I'll come back soon!" I yelled as I walked away I wonder what my dad will think I hope he doesn't punish me guess I'll find out in a little bit. I was nervous and scared but I was also happy phase one of my plan had gone through and I'm changing for once in my life.