keep moving

She sat on the steps watching people hurry past her. No one seemed to want to buy her apples today. No one needed an apple on Christmas. She watched a woman pass in furs and the most beautiful leather boots she’d ever seen. She looked down at the holes in her boots and tried to imagine what they used to look like when they were new. She lifted a single rose to her face wanting to feel the soft petals on her cheek, but it was too cold… her skin felt frozen. She thought maybe she’d stay there until her entire body froze. No one would notice anyway. She lifted her gaze to the night sky and saw a falling star. Her grandma used to tell her that a falling star meant a soul had just reached heaven. She closed her eyes and saw her grandma’s face. They both smiled. She felt her grandma’s warm hand on her cheek, “Get up my love.” She opened her eyes, took a deep breath and rose to her feet. Keep moving, she told herself, just keep moving.