⭐bittersweet⭐

It would’ve sucked to be truly homeless during the peak winter season, and Peyton’s situation was starting to turn around. One of the bravest things she did was actually visit a shelter that donated old clothes for the homeless, and she walked away with a warm but horrendous outfit that she wouldn’t have worn in the next century. However, she couldn’t afford any good winter clothes. She might look like a grandma, but she had bigger problems--at least that’s what Peyton told herself. Her old overalls were not the comfiest article of clothing. Why did she have to run away in denim and a crop top? Ugh. It was definitely a cute outfit, but hardly practical for a person that planned on being homeless for a time.

She was going to be a young adult next year, perhaps she could start looking for an actual, steady job around then.

She worked hard during most of the summer and fall season, and she went from open ground to a little house with walls. She didn’t realize how much she missed having walls--and privacy. 

However, the great thing about hitting rock bottom is that the only way left to go is up. She started simple but steady ways to rake in money with fishing, gardening, and the occasional odd job, and she stopped lashing out at every stranger she met for no reason. She started to walk around town and get to know people, in ways she had never bothered to do before when she had everything on a silver platter. 

Some days are better than others. Some days are grab-free-service-chips-from the-bar-day-because-you’re-broke and sleep-on-a-bench-in-the-rain-days. 

Peyton hated how much it hurt to see her friends having fun without her. But were they even her friends? Now that she thought about it, she did bring her phone but didn’t receive one text or message from anyone she knew. They never really cared about her, even when they partied and had fun together.

The realization of her having fake friends comforted her since she knew the reason behind their actions now...or rather their lack of action, but at the same time, she became more depressed knowing she now truly had no one but herself.

Peyton paid a visit to one of the libraries in a different town since Oasis Springs didn’t have one and she was bored out of her mind. She tried searching for odd jobs to earn extra cash, but eventually got side-tracked and made the mistake of searching up her old friends online. She was dismayed to discover how much fun they were still having despite her absence and how their luxurious lives carried on.

She didn’t realize how much it hurt to be alone until then, but she couldn’t go back to her old life. It wasn’t worth the pain she faced at home...even if it meant she could have a hot bath whenever she wanted.

Though her own bed is a major improvement, we still have yet to acquire enough funds for a toilet and shower...oh well.

Back to Oasis Springs...perhaps she can now make this newly purchased lot of hers home.

Evening came, Peyton was hungry, as usual, and was now on the move again. She found a cheap food stall, and she had some money from selling random stuff she scavenged, so she figured she could afford to spend a little bit. She started talking to the vendor about her situation without expecting anything from him, but then, he sheepishly handed her a yogurt parfait...on the house.

She had just acquired enough money for a building permit...perhaps this was the start of things turning around.

With the house to herself for the last few hours, she thought it was ample time to angrily cry out at herself, at her situation, at her stupidity for getting into this situation, and the fact she had no place to call home.

Turned out the mom loves to sit down and tell expressive stories, and nobody is allowed to talk or move while she is telling them. Though Peyton was bone-tired and ready to pass out, she figured it was a small price to pay to sit still and listen in order to get a hot shower and bed for the night. Oh, how much she was willing to give for one decent night.

She was officially desperate. She wandered to the next town over and found a single mom that took pity on her and would let Peyton stay in their house for the night.

Passed out on the floor with a desperate need to shower. She’s getting tired of scavenging around the park.

Eating the leftovers of park-goers and sleeping on benches was definitely not something she was used to.

She might’ve given up pretty much everything, but her cute-boy radar still works.

Current residence: Oasis Springs Park

Current Hobby: Torturing locals (because mean + self-absorbed trait) and fishing for $$$