High Horse {Charade}

As Venezia walked down the streets of District Six, she wondered to herself what the hell she was doing. She didn't belong here, not anymore. She was an outcast, resigned to staying at home and peeking at the world through her windows. But just because she didn't belong didn't mean she should be denied the right to walk beneath the sun. But the wealthy few of District Six seemed to think so. She'd been one of them, once. Funny how she'd never noticed how unlike them she was until her money was gone. They looked down their noses at her now, even though she was the same person as she'd always been. Well, almost.

Venezia rubbed her arms, which were dotted with goosebumps despite the warm weather. She could feel eyes on her everywhere, watching and wondering. She was a good piece of gossip, even now, months after her fall from grace. She hadn't had money then, but she'd still been accepted in their circles because her family knew how to keep them fooled. But they all knew the truth now. Old dresses remade to make new ones couldn't fool them anymore. She could wear whatever she damn well pleased - which really wasn't much different than what she already wore.

Reaching into a pocket, she rubbed her fingers over the leather of her father's old wallet. He hadn't had it when they'd taken him, and when Venezia had come home, she'd claimed it as her own. She didn't pretend that her parents were coming back. She was a strong, smart girl, and she knew the truth. Venezia herself had barely been innocent, so it wasn't hard to imagine the fate that had befallen her parents. The wallet contained only a few slips of paper, the money that would have to get her through the next week. She had enough food at home, so she didn't have to worry about that. But she did need the money for her pain pills. She'd tried going without the medication for a few days, but the pain in her leg had been too intense. The little white ovals contained in the orange plastic cylinder were running out. Hopefully, she'd have enough money to buy some more today. If not, she'd have to wait a day or two, until she'd given a few more piano lessons and collected payment.

She turned a street corner. Her leg twinged with pain, but she tried to ignore it. She'd decided to wait until after her walk to take her medication today, hoping that the exercise wouldn't hurt her after all. She blew air between her lips and sighed, reaching over to rub the back of her leg. It wouldn't help, but force of habit made her do so anyway. When she straightened, she continued on her way, hoping she'd make it to the store and back before the pain got even worse.