"Will you come home right after that, then?" Ruth asked. "I'm scared to be in the house alone now."
The train conductor walked through the storage compartment, peering over his glasses at each box stacked on top of each other. Inside a small box tucked behind two larger boxes was Faith, curled up into a ball with her backpack crushed under her. It was extremely uncomfortable but she had to grin and bear it, because she had no money and this was her only option. The box had contained beef jerky before Faith had filled her bag and tossed out the rest to fit herself. She tried not to breathe as she heard the conductor's footsteps pass her. The compartment door opened, then closed. She was safe. For now.