take a walk on the wild side [python]

I had walked these streets so many times for so many different reasons. Whether it was to run to school after I missed the morning transit, stroll down with my fingers interlaced with Callum's as he guided me toward our mystery date location, or strut through the night in an attempt to entrap potential clients. But tonight, I had a foreign and far more sinful objective in mind. My usual heels were replaced with my sister's ballet shoes, which miraculously fit my feet perfectly. I adorned a hooded jacket, which drew no suspicion during the chilling December night. A pocket in the coat provided a place to conceal my glove covered hands, despite the fact that wearing those were not the least bit unusual. In honesty, I was probably doing it in nervousness, as I was far too numb to even feel the cold wind blow through the air.

Each step I took seemed to take longer, and my walk was almost infinite. Oh, how I dreaded my destination, how terribly I wanted to turn back and forget all about what I had planned to do. But the itch is what drove me forward, the dependence I had on my personal escape. My little piece of heaven would be my inevitable downfall but I continued to journey deeper. I couldn't stop now, after all that I had done, all that I had sacrificed. Even if I had to make more sacrifices in the future, there was no intervention that could help me. I was hooked, addicted, any word even Mark Twain could think up. Basically, I was just really fucked up.

And then I took the last step, and in that moment, I seemed to have lost the ability to breathe. The only thing I could feel was my stomach spinning circles in fear and nervousness. This was it. My eyes scanned the area before finding a mailbox. I read the number before opening up a scrap of paper to double check, though I knew that this was the correct address. I looked left, and then looked right, and took a final glance behind me before stepping up to the gate. Fence stretched all the way around the lot, but it wouldn't be too difficult to climb. My eyes scanned each and every window, looking for any hint of a light, but there was none. The manor was left alone, just as expected. I double checked to make sure there were no witness before I placed my foot on the lowest bar of the fence. My gymnastics skills would have to help me here. Grabbing the top bar, I pushed myself up, bring my legs up and gracefully flipping to the other side. Or as graceful as I could be with such a long fall. I hit the ground hard on my left leg, and I had to bite my lip to prevent myself from from crying out in pain. But soon, the numbness took over, as I realized that I was inside the grounds.

My hands reached back for my backpack, which housed my lock breaking equipment, but movement a few floors up caught my eye. Instinctively I leaped behind a bush. At that moment I thought to myself that it was all over. I would be thrown into jail for trespassing and attempted robbery, and I wouldn't be able to provide income for my dad and Lolita. She couldn't work, she was far too young, and even if she could she wouldn't be able to produce the cash that I can. Even that's not enough. That's why I was here in the first place. Business during this time of the year was slow at best, what with the family men who would frequently hire me spending bonding time with their families, decorating Christmas trees and making holiday cookies. I barely made enough from the shop to buy dad's medication for the month. I needed more. More to fund Lolita's dance classes, more to buy gifts for my family and friends. More for myself and my own darkness.

I finally mustered up the courage to peer behind the bush and up at the window, only to notice that the movement was a mere curtain blowing in the wind. Blowing in the wind? A closer look showed that someone had left a window open. Bingo. A ladder that leaned against the shed seemed just tall enough to make the window. I propped it against the side of the house and began to climb. It was wobbly, and my leg injury burned with pain, but I kept climbing. As I latched onto the window sill, my leg gave way and the ladder crashed to the ground. I gave a slight shriek before regaining my composure, pulling myself up into the room.

It was a room about the size of three of my living rooms. The colors suggested it to be a girl's room, probably a teenager like myself. A sudden feeling of guilt pulsed through me. Maybe I knew this girl. Maybe I sat right next to her in mathematics, or maybe she was the best friend of Lolita. Lolita needs this. I need this. I rummaged through the drawers, trying to find any cash left behind in the room. I searched beneath the pillows, underneath the mattress, even inside a bottle of vitamins in the bathroom. I walked up to the vanity and pulled open a drawer. Instantly, my eyes were shining with the view of valuable metals, crafted into all kind of jewelry. I promised myself I would only take cash, but... I just could not resist. I began to dump handfuls of jewelry into my bag, cleaning out the entire drawer, before I noticed a pair of earrings sitting atop the vanity. They were the most beautiful things I had ever seen. Without even thinking about it I pulled my hood down and freed my blonde hair from it's bun. I slowly put the earrings on, savoring the beauty of the diamonds and gold and silver that seemed to shine like a star in the night sky. I stared at myself in the mirror for what seemed like forever, smiling wider than I had all day. I looked so stunning. My eyes were glued to the earrings, though my grin turned into a gasp as I noticed a figure in my peripheral.