Past Transgressions

Linking fingers into the chain link fence, Calloway pressed his face against the fence, letting his dark eyes take in the construction. The terror attacks on New York City had happened long before he was aware of them, and yet, the humans were still picking up the pieces. Before him, was ground zero, now, formally known as the Freedom Tower and still, the fence remained intact, keeping civilians away for their safety as large cranes moved steel beams and workers in hard hats stood around watching. The beeping and revving engines drowned out all other sounds of the city but the general flow of traffic and constantly beeping and yelling had become such a normal part of his hearing that he wasn't sure if those were drowned out or if he just didn't pay attention anymore.

Laughter behind him forced him to pull away from the fence and look behind him. A woman held the hand of a little girl who held the hand of her even littler sister. The three were licking happily at ice cream cones and Cal felt a familiar tug at his being and he frowned. He'd lost his parents when he'd only been five years old. Ten years later, he shouldn't feel such jealousies anymore... right?

Hands in his pockets, he turned away from the Freedom Tower and headed down the sidewalk, scaring up a flock of pigeons as he went. Having spent the last ten years on the streets of the city, Calloway knew his way around and where everything he needed, was. Today, however, he had no need to hunt for his food; the very beings that rushed around him. He'd always felt like an outsider, even in a crowd of people. Though he longed for company of others, he couldn't help but see humans as nothing more than food. How would he be allowed to make friends, have a first love or make a family? Stepping back, it could seem almost criminal, hence why he was still alone. But it never stopped Cal from meeting new people and making memories. Sure, he may never see them again but to him, that was better than the alternative.

He hurried his way across the crosswalk as the light blinked caution and headed down the opposite side of the street. From his pocket, he pulled out a wrapped piece of candy and popped it into his mouth, throwing the wrapped into the trash. He had the world laid out in front of him everyday that he woke up and it was always an adventure to him to find something new to do.